Multinational Corps Southeast

The Headquarters Multinational Corps Southeast (HQ MNC-SE) in Sibiu, Romania, is a NATO corps-level command and control structure under the operational control of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples. With Romania as the framework nation, the Corps is integrated within NATO's military command structure.

Headquarters Multinational Corps Southeast
Comandamentul Corpului Multinațional de Sud-Est
Official emblem of the Headquarters Multinational Division Southeast
Active23 July 2020 – present
CountryRomania
Allegiance NATO
Part ofAllied Joint Force Command Naples
Garrison/HQSibiu
Motto(s)FORTIS IN UNUM
Websitehttps://mncse.ro/webroot/en/
Commanders
CommanderMajor General Dragoș-Dumitru Iacob (RO)
Chief of StaffBrigadier General Valentin Brînzei (RO)
Deputy CommanderMajor General Abdullah Soydemir (TR)
Deputy Chief of StaffBrigadier General Ivan Ivanov (BG)[1]
Command Senior Enlisted LeaderChief warrant officer Yannick Godbout (CA)

It was formed on 23 July 2020, and is the second NATO Multinational Corps on the Eastern flank after Multinational Corps Northeast from Poland.[2][3] The Corps is part of the security architecture on the Eastern flank of the Alliance in the Black Sea region. It is designed to provide corps-level command and control for NATO land operations during crises or war.[4]

History
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and Multinational Corps Southeast officers during exercise Defender Europe 21

During the 2018 Brussels summit, the President of Romania announced that Romania offered to develop a command and control capability on its territory to continue the adaptation process to the NATO Command Structure. The decision to establish a Multinational Corps Headquarters was approved by the Supreme Council of National Defence on 20 April 2020. At first, the Headquarters were to be temporarily located in Bucharest, then relocated to Sibiu. The Romanian Parliament approved the decision on 18 June 2020.[2]

On 23 July 2020, the establishment ceremony took place at the Joint National Training Center in Cincu. During the ceremony, Major General Tomiță-Cătălin Tomescu, the units new commander, received the military colours from President Klaus Iohannis. A short notice exercise, during which 1.000 soldiers participated, was held after the ceremony. The exercise was meant to perfect the process of executing complex military actions without the usual planning stages.[5]

The Initial operating capability was achieved in June 2021, with the conclusion of the Defender-Europe 21 command post exercise. A month later, on 1 July, the Headquarters were moved to the Sibiu Garrison.[2] On 28 February 2022, with the retirement of Lieutenant General Tomiță-Cătălin Tomescu, the command was handed over to Major General Dragoș-Dumitru Iacob.[6]

The Multinational Corps Southeast assumed command and control over the NATO land forces deployed to Romania and Bulgaria on 20 January 2023: Headquarters Multinational Division Southeast, NATO Force Integration Unit Bulgaria, and NATO Force Integration Unit Romania. During the event, commanders of the French-led Multinational Battle Group in Romania, the Italian-led Multinational Battle Group in Bulgaria, and the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South East, also participated.[7]

Symbols
Unit patches of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and Multinational Corps Southeast

The heraldic emblem of the Corps has a green and blue background, symbolizing the land-oriented character of the HQ, and the core values of NATO (preserving the peace and freedom of its member states) respectively. A NATO compass rose is located in the center of the shield, behind which there are two crossed weapons: a double-headed axe, and a saber, symbolizing the sovereignty of the states and the combat power of the Corps.[8]

The three stars indicate the hierarchical rank of the HQ, while the Romanian flag indicates the Framework Nation of the HQ. The motto of the unit, "FORTIS IN UNUM!" ("Strong Together!"), is meant to show Romania's resolution, as part of the Alliance, to ensure a safe and secure environment in the region.[8]

Structure

Contributing nations

As of December 2022, there were 9 troop-contributing nations to the Headquarters: Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, and Turkey. Another 6 nations are set to join: Croatia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.[10]

Commanders
  • Lieutenant General Tomiță-Cătălin Tomescu 23 July 2020 – 28 February 2022
  • Major General Dragoș-Dumitru Iacob 28 February 2022–present

See also

References
  1. "Cabinet Proposes New Appointments in Military Top Brass". bta.bg. 23 November 2022.
  2. "Historical milestones". mncse.ro. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  3. Adi Mondiru (3 July 2020). "Comandamentul Corpului Multinațional de Sud-Estal NATO, din Bucureşti, va fi relocat la Sibiu, începând de anul viitor". rador.ro (in Romanian).
  4. "Mission". mncse.ro. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  5. Cristian Lenga (2020-07-29). "Un nou comandament NATO în România". presamil.ro (in Romanian).
  6. "Multinational Corps South-East Change of Command Ceremony". mncse.ro. 28 February 2022.
  7. "Multinational Corps South-East Assumes the Command and Control of NATO Land Forces Deployed in Bulgaria and Romania". mncse.ro. 21 January 2023.
  8. "Insignia description". mncse.ro. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  9. "Aniversarea unui an de activitate a Regimentului 46 Sprijin". forter.ro (in Romanian). 2 April 2021.
  10. Valentin Brînzei (December 2022). "HQ MNC-SE Milestones towards Achieving FOC" (PDF). FORTIS IN UNUM Multinational Corps South-East Magazine. Nicolae Bălcescu Land Forces Academy Publishing House. p. 26.

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