Behind Closed Doors with Germany: Poland Must Wait Until 2031 Due to Staff Shortages

Poland and Germany have agreed on a rotational command for NATO’s JFC Brunssum, but a Polish general cannot take charge until 2031 because of a lack of qualified personnel.

Polish General to Head JFC Brunssum in 2031

In February, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces General Wiesław Kukuła reported that, for the first time in history, a Polish officer will head NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum. We wrote in Gazeta.pl that, according to Kukuła, this is an important proof of trust in the Polish Armed Forces and our defense efforts.

Poland and Germany have already reached an agreement regarding the rotational staffing of the JFC Brunssum commander position, reported RMF FM correspondent Katarzyna Szymańska-Borginon. A Polish general is to assume this position in 2031, while the command will be led by two Germans beforehand.

Command Structure After Gerhartz’s Term

Currently, the command is led by General Ingo Gerhartz. After his term ends, a new NATO command structure will take effect. RMF FM’s findings indicate that a German military officer will then become the commander of JFC Brunssum again, and when that term ends, a Pole will head the command.

Breaking the Existing Order

An RMF FM source at NATO Headquarters assessed that the arrangements regarding future rotation are a success for Poland because the existing order has been broken. Over the past 20 years, JFC Brunssum has been led exclusively by generals from Germany and Italy.

The Challenge of Personnel Shortages

At the same time, the station’s interviewee emphasized that Poland’s problem is the lack of appropriate personnel. In his opinion, Poland currently does not have a sufficient number of people who are well-prepared to take on the highest positions in NATO structures. Katarzyna Szymańska-Borginon heard during talks in NATO circles that within five or six years, such a person cannot simply be pulled out of a hat.

Changes in NATO’s Command Structure

According to official information, Poland and Germany will rotationally lead the Allied Joint Force Command in Brunssum, the United Kingdom will take control of the Allied Joint Force Command in Norfolk, and Italy will take control of the Allied Joint Force Command in Naples. This is part of changes aimed at Europeans taking greater responsibility for security in the region. NATO Military Committee Chairman Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone stated that the agreement regarding the new structure is a historical milestone for NATO.