Officers from the Turkish Naval Forces at Command of the Amphibious Task Force (CATF) and the Command of the Landing Force (CLF) Headquarters in Spain on 5 July, 2025. (Photo via X/@tcsavunma)
July 05, 2025 05:44 PM GMT+03:00
Türkiye’s Naval Forces Command assumed leadership of key NATO amphibious operations for the first time, taking over command responsibilities from Spain in a ceremony held July 4, 2025.
The Turkish Ministry of National Defense announced that Türkiye had received command of the NATO Allied Reaction Force’s Amphibious Task Force (CATF) and Landing Force (CLF) from Spanish headquarters as part of the country’s NATO commitments.
President Erdogan with Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis during the 75th NATO anniversary summit, Washington, July 10, 2024. (AA Photo)
Historic milestone marks expanded Turkish role in NATO
The handover comes as a significant milestone for Türkiye within the Atlantic alliance, marking the first time Turkish naval forces will lead these specialized amphibious operations. The command transfer took place at the CATF/CLF headquarters in Spain.
Türkiye will maintain command of these NATO forces through June 30, 2026, according to the defense ministry’s social media announcement.
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The NATO Allied Reaction Force serves as a rapid-response capability for the alliance, with amphibious forces playing a crucial role in providing flexible military options for crisis response and collective defense operations.
The rotation of command responsibilities among NATO allies is standard practice within the organization, ensuring burden-sharing and providing member nations with leadership experience in multinational operations.
July 05, 2025 05:45 PM GMT+03:00