After the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014, a NATO Readiness Action Plan was decided upon during the 2014 Wales summit. To implement this decision, Romania offered to form the Multinational Division South-East Headquarters (MND-SE HQ).[5] This was approved by the Romanian Parliament on 23 June 2015. The 1st Infantry Division handed over the command to the Multinational Division on 31 August 2015, and a day later, the Multinational Division was officially inaugurated.[3] The Division Headquarters were activated several months later, in December.[5] Initial operational capability was achieved in 2016. During exercise LOYAL LEDA 18, the Division was declared fully operational in March 2018 after a ceremony held at the Training Center in Cincu.[2][6]
On 20 January 2023, the command and control over the Multinational Division was transferred to the Multinational Corps Southeast.[1]
Role
Activation ceremony of the Multinational Division Southeast
The role of the Headquarters Multinational Division Southeast is to coordinate NATO's operations in Romania and Bulgaria, and is able to coordinate NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force during an Article 5 operation.[3][6] Within NATO's Black Sea security architecture, the Multinational Division complements the allied command and controlstructure based on the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan.[7]
According to Lieutenant General Alain Parent, Allied Joint Force Command Naples Deputy Commander "This new headquarters, led by Romanian armed forces members, will assure NATO allies of an increased readiness and capability, not only for the Southeast region, but for all NATO territories."[5]
