Allied Forces Southern Europe
| Joint Force Command Naples | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Active | AFSOUTH 1951 - 2004 15 March 2004 – present |
| Allegiance |  North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| Part of | Allied Command Operations, Casteau, Belgium |
| Headquarters | Giugliano in Campania, Naples, Italy |
| Engagements |
Bosnian War Kosovo War Military intervention in Libya |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Admiral Michelle J. Howard, United States Navy |
| Deputy Commander | Lieutenant-General Alain J. Parent, Canadian Air Force |
| Chief of Staff | Lieutenant-General Luciano Portolano, Italian Army |
Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples (JFC Naples) is a NATO military command based in Lago Patria, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy—the base was formerly located in the Bagnoli quarter of Naples. It was activated on 15 March 2004, after what was effectively a redesignation of its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH), originally formed in 1951. AFSOUTH in NATO Military Command Structure terms was a 'Major Subordinate Command.' Commander JFC Naples reports to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Casteau, Belgium.
Originally, Allied Forces Southern Europe was one of two major NATO commands in the Mediterranean area, the other being Allied Forces Mediterranean based on the island of Malta, responsible for naval activities in the region. While Admiral Robert B. Carney of the U.S. Navy was appointed as Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CinCAFSOUTH) on 19 June 1951, AFMED was not activated until 1953. The delay was due to negotiations and compromises between the Americans and the British, who wished to retain one of their commanders over Britain's traditional sea lines of communication stretching through the Mediterranean to the Suez Canal and beyond. From 1951 to 2003, the Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Southern Europe was always a United States Navy admiral, based at Naples, who also held the national appointment of Commander-in-Chief United States Naval Forces Europe. AFSOUTH headquarters was established at Nisida island, Naples.
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