Joe Wambold

AFSOUTH, or Allied Forces Southern Europe, was established in Naples, Italy, in 1951 as a major NATO headquarters responsible for the defense of Southern Europe during the Cold War. The command oversaw the coordination of land, sea, and air forces from member nations in the Mediterranean region, including Italy, Greece, and Turkey. Throughout its history, AFSOUTH played a key role in planning and executing NATO operations in the Balkans during the 1990s, such as peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo. In 2004, AFSOUTH was reorganized and became Allied Joint Force Command Naples, continuing its vital mission of ensuring security and stability in southern Europe and beyond.