NATO members inaugurate new NFIU in Sofia

Photo By Maj. Kay Nissen | A Bulgarian Armed Forces member stands at his duty station in the newly inaugurated NATO Force Integration Unit in Sofia, Bulgaria, Sept. 3, 2015. Six NATO member nations activated their NFIUs on Sept. 1 as part of alliance adaptation measures. (NATO photo by Capt. Kay M. Nissen)  

SOFIA, BULGARIA

09.03.2015

Story by Capt. Kay Nissen 

Allied Joint Force Command Naples     

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Military and political leaders of Bulgaria and NATO gathered for the ceremonial inauguration of the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) here, Sept. 3, 2015.

The President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev and the NATO deputy assistant secretary general James Appathurai spoke at the event.

“Political commitments have to be back up by real capability,” said Apparthurai as he elaborated on the real capability of the NFIU in Bulgaria. “It (the NFIU) is a concrete example of our commitment…it is a clear sign of the solidarity of our alliance.”

A total of six NFIUs from Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania were officially activated on Sept. 1. Additional inauguration ceremonies took place today in Romania and Lithuania, as well.

The Operational Control Commander of the Bulgarian and Romanian NFIUs, U.S. Navy Adm. Mark Ferguson, attended the event. Ferguson is also the commander of Allied Joint Force Command in Naples.

“The members who make up the NFIUs will ensure this new, vital piece of the collective defense of our Alliance is a success,” said Ferguson. “I am confident in the men and women who have been selected to lead this command will help NATO meet the security challenges of today and tomorrow.”

The activation of the NFIUs is part of NATO’s adaptation in the face of security challenges from the east and south. Approximately 40 personnel will serve in each NFIU, with half of them representing the host nation.

• Date Taken: 09.03.2015
• Date Posted: 09.03.2015 10:47
• Story ID: 175141
• Location: SOFIA, BG