French relief in command of the ACT in Norfolk
(B2 in Norfolk, Virginia) Succession is ensured at NATO Transformation Command (ACT), one of the main military commands of the Alliance
General (French) Philippe Lavigne has taken over from his compatriot General André Lanata, at the head of what is one of the main commands of the Atlantic Alliance. The ACT is in charge of the Transformation of the Alliance, that is to say, to keep an eye on future developments and to prepare NATO for the conflicts and crises of tomorrow... or the day after tomorrow.
In the great hall of the city's naval museum was gathered all the members of NATO. Most of the military representatives within the Alliance traveled to the USA to attend the ceremony. But a good military ceremony is inconceivable without an orchestra...
To those who might doubt France's presence in NATO's integrated command, there is no doubt here. " France is a strong and highly valued NATO ally, with state-of-the-art capabilities and highly professional forces “, launches the Secretary General in his speech.
« For more than a decade, France has appointed its best officers to take this command », continues Jens Stoltenberg. A fairly natural compliment in this type of ceremony, but which takes on particular importance in the midst of the fallout from the AUKUS submarine affair.
The whole thing took place in Norfolk, headquarters of the ACT. Norfolk is more than that. The city is also home to one of the largest naval bases in the United States and the headquarters of theU.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
