A Polish Army officer will, for the first time, assume command of NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum, one of the alliance’s most important operational headquarters, under a new arrangement expanding the role of European allies in NATO’s military leadership.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, General Wiesław Kukuła, who said the appointment represents a milestone for Poland’s armed forces and its standing within the alliance.

“For the first time in history, a Polish Army officer, a four-star general, will head the joint NATO command – JFC Brunssum,” General Kukuła wrote on X, adding that it was “an important demonstration of confidence in the Polish Army and our defense efforts!”

The command in Brunssum, located in the Netherlands, oversees NATO operations and defense planning for Central Europe. Parallel joint force commands operate in Naples, covering Southern Europe, and in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S., responsible for the Atlantic region.

Polish news outlet wPolityce noted that the current commander, German General Ingo Gerhartz, who assumed the post in June last year, will complete his term before a Polish general formally takes over. NATO has not yet confirmed which officer will assume the role.

Poland currently has two serving four-star generals, General Kukuła himself and General Sławomir Wojciechowski, who represents Poland on NATO and EU military committees. However, officials note that one of Poland’s several three-star generals could be promoted before the transition occurs.

Colonel Marek Pietrzak, spokesman for the Polish General Staff, said the change comes as part of a broader restructuring of responsibilities among NATO’s senior military commands.

Under the new arrangements, command of JFC Brunssum will rotate between German and Polish officers. Meanwhile, the commands in Naples and Norfolk, currently held by American officers, will in future be led by Italian and British officers respectively.

Former Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak welcomed the development, calling it a major diplomatic and military success for Warsaw.

“For the first time in history, a Polish general will head NATO’s Joint Command Brunssum! Huge congratulations to General Wojciechowski! This is a great success for Poland and proof that the actions initiated by our government, which strengthened Poland’s position among allies, are yielding tangible, long-term benefits,” Błaszczak wrote on social media.

“This is the second such important appointment for a Polish officer, following General Adamczak’s time as Director General of the International Military Staff at NATO Headquarters,” the Conservative (PiS) politician added.