U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Command Europe leaders met the week of June 8 for staff talks, reinforcing the strong collaboration and synchronization between the two organizations. The staff talks were initiated in 2018 to strengthen transparency and understanding between the U.S. and NATO. German Navy Adm. Joachim Ruhle led the SHAPE staff, and Maj. Gen. Lamontagne led the USEUCOM Staff.

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert V. Abernethy passes the guide-on in a change of responsibility ceremony for U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Abernethy, a South Carolina native, assumed responsibility from Chief Master Sgt. Phillip L. Easton, who served as the command's top enlisted adviser since August 2019. The EUCOM senior enlisted leader will lead more than 82,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians across 400 bases, while coordinating with five component commands and encouraging professional development and capacity building among European Allies and Partners.

Chief Master Sgt. Phillip L. Easton, outgoing Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. European Command, speaks during the change of responsibility ceremony, Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Command Master Sgt. Robert V. Abernethy, a South Carolina native, assumed responsibility from Easton, who served as the command's top enlisted adviser since August 2019. The EUCOM senior enlisted leader will lead more than 82,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians across 400 bases, while coordinating with five component commands and encouraging professional development and capacity building among European Allies and Partners.

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert V. Abernethy, incoming Senior Enlisted Leader for U.S. European Command speaks during his change of responsibility ceremony, Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Abernethy, a South Carolina native, assumed responsibility from Chief Master Sgt. Phillip L. Easton, who served as the command's top enlisted adviser since August 2019. The EUCOM senior enlisted leader will lead more than 82,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians across 400 bases, while coordinating with five component commands and encouraging professional development and capacity building among European Allies and Partners.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov attend the Ukraine Defense Consultative Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, April 26, 2022. Austin met with his NATO counterparts and over 40 other nations to discuss both the current and future defense needs of Ukraine. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

Gen. Tod D. Wolters, the commander of U.S. European Command, meets with WWII veteran Neal McCallum in the Normandy region of France on June 5, 2022, during the 78th anniversary of D-Day. A Marine with the 6th Marine Division, Mr. McCallum served in the Pacific during WWII. (U.S. Department of Defense photo)

Gen. Tod D. Wolters, the commander of U.S. European Command, meets with D-Day veteran Dick Rung in the Normandy region of France on June 5, 2022, during the 78th anniversary of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, Motor Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Rung landed on Omaha Beach in Landing Craft Tank 539. (U.S. Department of Defense photo)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters, U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied commander, delivers a speech during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, May 28, 2022. The cemetery is the final resting ground of 7,845 Americans who lost their lives while liberating Italy during World War II. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew James Eder)

U.S. Navy Sailors and Italian service members assigned to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa Band perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, May 28, 2022. The cemetery is the final resting ground of 7,845 Americans who lost their lives while liberating Italy during World War II. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew James Eder)

U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Agencies Cindy Hensley McCain delivers a speech during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, May 28, 2022. The cemetery is the final resting ground of 7,845 Americans who lost their lives while liberating Italy during World War II. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew James Eder)

A joint force honor guard parades the colors during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, May 28, 2022. The cemetery is the final resting ground of 7,845 Americans who lost their lives while liberating Italy during World War II. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew James Eder)

U.S. Army Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade from Aviano Air Base, Italy, render a 21-gun salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, May 28, 2022. The cemetery is the final resting ground of 7,845 Americans who lost their lives while liberating Italy during World War II. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew James Eder)

U.S. Air Force Maj. Sarah Schechter, a chaplain from the 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, delivers the invocation during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy, May 28, 2022. The cemetery is the final resting ground of 7,845 Americans who lost their lives while liberating Italy during World War II. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew James Eder)

U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak and Poland Provided Infrastructure Program Manager U.S. Army Col. Eric McFadden speak following the groundbreaking ceremony for the Munitions Storage Area being constructed in Powidz, Poland June 2, 2022. The ceremony marked the beginning of the Poland Provided Infrastructure program, which provides a mechanism for sharing the costs for U.S. forces in Poland. Infrastructure projects are funded by Poland and are designed and constructed to meet U.S. requirements for use by U.S. forces operating in Poland. For its part, the U.S. will continue to bear the costs of training, equipping, deploying and employment of U.S. forces in the country. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District)

Capt. Jenavee Viernes, a Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) team leader, left, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Deon Johnson, a Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) recovery team noncommissioned officer, right, sift through dirt during a recovery mission in Brandenburg, Germany, July 7, 2021. The mission of DPAA is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James Thompson)

Senior Airman Colton Perkins, a Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) recovery service member, refills a previously excavated site during a recovery mission in Brandenburg, Germany, July 6, 2021. The mission of DPAA is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James Thompson)

Members of U.S. Air Force 820th Base Defense Group, a unit which supports Special Operations Forces (SOF) and the Department of Defense’s Immediate Response Force, train in simulated tactical combat casualty care during Exercise Trojan Footprint 22 near Udbina, Croatia, May 4, 2022. Exercise Trojan Footprint is the premier special operations forces exercise in Europe that focuses on improving the ability of SOF to counter myriad threats, increases integration with conventional forces and enhances interoperability with our NATO allies and European partners. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Hannah Hawkins)

A Norwegian soldier with Armoured Battalion, Brigade Nord, Norwegian Army, runs off a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 (HMH-366), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, during Exercise Cold Response 22 in Setermoen, Norway, March 15, 2022. Exercise Cold Response 22 is a biennial Norwegian national readiness and defense exercise that takes place across Norway, with participation from each of its military services, including 26 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allied nations and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. William Chockey)

A Countdown to the 70th Anniversary

A Countdown to the 70th Anniversary

Brig Gen Enno Mõts, chief of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defense Force, delivers remarks during the Baltic Sea C5I Synchronization Board April 22 in Stuttgart, Germany. The Baltic Sea C5I Synchronization Board was established after a milestone Terms of Reference arrangement was signed in Oct. 2021 in Tallinn, Estonia. This arrangement reaffirmed the U.S. and Baltic Allies’ commitment to improve warfighting interoperability among all parties and across all domains to be better postured to defend against future threats.

Lithuanian Armed Forces' Cmdr. Albertas Padriezas provides an update from the Maritime Component Working Group during the Baltic Sea C5I Synchronization Board Apr. 22 in Stuttgart, Germany. U.S. Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian military leaders met to strengthen their nations' information systems' interoperability during the USEUCOM-hosted event.

Two military officers from the Latvian Armed Forces discuss briefing details during the Baltic Sea C5I Synchronization Board April 22 in Stuttgart, Germany. During the event, U.S., Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian military leaders met to strengthen their nations’ information systems’ interoperability.

Military leaders from Baltic nations and USEUCOM met during the Baltic Sea C5I Synchronization Board in Stuttgart, Germany, Apr. 22. This is the first time the board met after a milestone Terms of Reference arrangement was signed last year in Tallinn, Estonia. This arrangement reaffirmed the U.S. and Baltic Allies' commitment to improve warfighting interoperability among all parties and across all domains to be better postured to defend against future threats.

From left, the Norwegian Fritdjof Nansen-class frigate HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl (F314), French F70 type frigate FS Latouche-Tréville (D646) and German Sachsen-class air-defense frigate FGS Sachsen (F219) sail in formation in the North Atlantic Ocean in support of exercise Northern Viking 2022. Northern Viking 22 strengthens interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland and Allied nations, enabling multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap. (Courtesy photo by French Navy)

The German Sachsen-class air-defense frigate FGS Sachsen (F 219), front, and Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) transit in formation in the North Atlantic Ocean in support of exercise Northern Viking 22. Northern Viking 22 strengthens interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland and Allied nations, enabling multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap. (Courtesy photo by Terence Wallet)

A B-52H Stratofortress from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at RAF Fairford, England, is escorted by two Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripens on Feb. 18, 2022. The Swedish fighters met with the B-52 during a sortie over Sweden to practice establishing communications between the aircrafts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Wright)

U.S. Marines with Jaeger (Hunter) concept platoon, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, hike to a hide site position prior to Exercise Cold Response 22 in Setermoen, Norway, March 3, 2022. Exercise Cold Response 22 is a biennial Norwegian national readiness and defense exercise that takes place across Norway, with participation from each of its military services, including 26 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allied nations and regional partners. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. William Chockey)

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 4, 2022) - An AV-8B Harrier, attached to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes off the flight deck of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during a Northern Viking 22 air defense exercise, April 4, 2022. Northern Viking 22 strengthens interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland and allied nations, enabling multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and Sea lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jesse Schwab)

Two German Air Force Eurofighters escort a United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at RAF Fairford, England April 5, 2022. The German Air Force escorted the 69th EBS on their way to the Mediterranean region to integrate with Allies as part of pre-planned Bomber Task Force Europe series of missions.

A Czech Air Force Saab JAS-39C Gripen es-corts a United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Expedi-tionary Bomb Squadron at RAF Fairford, Eng-land April 5, 2022. The Czech Air Force es-corted the 69th EBS on their way to the Mediterranean region for Bomber familiariza-tion with Allies as part of pre-planned Bomb-er Task Force Europe series of missions.

Two Czech Air Force Saab JAS-39 Gripen fly in formation alongside a B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at RAF Fairford, England, as a part of the pre-planned Bomber Task Force Europe series of missions, March 29, 2022. B-52s from the 69th EBS flew to the Czech Republic to integrate with U.S. Allies in an effort to strengthen fighter-bomber interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Wright)

An Italian Air Force Eurofighter escorts a B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at RAF Fairford, England, as a part of the pre-planned Bomber Task Force Europe series of missions, March 29, 2022. The 69th EBS flew to Romania and The Czech Republic to integrate with U.S. Allies for bomber familiarization. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Wright)

An honor guard welcomes Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III as he arrives in Sofia, Bulgaria on March 18, 2022. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III speaks to Soldiers assigned to 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Bulgaria on March 18, 2022. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers support a routine, pre-planned Dynamic Targeting and Close Air Support training event at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, March 4, 2022 in support of NATO allies and regional partners. The B-52H's are manned by aircrew assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. Bomber Task Force rotations demonstrate the U.S.’ ironclad commitment to promoting regional security alongside our NATO allies and regional partners. (U.S. Army photos by Kevin Sterling Payne)

U.S. and Bulgarian forces work together during DEFENDER Europe 21.