Norwegian Chief of Defence visits SHAPE

From Left to Right,  Command Sergeant Major Ingar Lund,  Command Sergeant Major of Norwegian Armed Forces,  Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen,  Norwegian Chief of Defence,  General Curtis M. Scaparrotti,  Supreme Allied Commander Europe,  and Command Sergeant Major Davor Petek,  Command Senior Enlisted Leader,  take a photo at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe,  Belgium on Nov. 28,  2018. (NATO photo by Staff Sergeant Jimmie D. Pike)

MONS, Belgium – Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, Norwegian Chief of Defence, and Command Sergeant Major Ingar Lund, Command Sergeant Major of Norwegian Armed Forces, visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, to meet with General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and SHAPE senior leadership.

During the visit, Admiral Bruun-Hanssen met with SHAPE leadership and with the Norwegian National Military Representative as well as Norwegian service members stationed at the headquarters. Admiral Bruun-Hanssen's visit comes only weeks after the end of exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE, which took place Oct. 25 to Nov. 7 (a Command Post Exercise portion following through Nov. 23) throughout Norway.

The exercise tested the capability and readiness of the NATO Response Force as well as the Norwegian Total Defence Concept, showcasing the integration of NATO Command Structure's cohesion with national defence plans.

"Admiral Bruun-Hanseen and I discussed the complex ever-changing security environment which requires military forces that are trained and ready," said General Scaparrotti. "I would like to thank Norway for hosting Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE, especially the Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and hosting of more than 50,000 military personnel. Norway was critical to the success of the exercise with their proactive engagement, dedication and resources."

TRIDENT JUNCTURE is the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War, involving 50,000 personnel, 10,000 vehicles, 250 aircraft and 65 ships.

Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office