Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

Not to be confused with Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force.
This article is about the supreme headquarters of NATO's Allied Command Operations (ACO), that commands all NATO operations. For NATO's political seat, see NATO headquarters. For the subordinate parts of ACO, see Allied Command Operations.
"SHAPE" redirects here. For other uses, see Shape (disambiguation).
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Coat of arms
Founded1951
Part ofNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization
LocationMons, Belgium
50°30′01.6″N 3°58′59.7″E / 50.500444°N 3.983250°E / 50.500444; 3.983250
Motto(s)"Vigilia Pretium Libertatis" (Latin)
"Vigilance is the Price of Liberty"
Websitewww.shape.nato.int Edit this at Wikidata
Commanders
CommanderGeneral Christopher G. Cavoli, United States Army
Deputy CommanderAdmiral Sir Keith Blount, Royal Navy
Chief of StaffAdmiral Joachim Rühle, German Navy
Insignia
Achievement
Standard

The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) is the military headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Allied Command Operations (ACO) that commands all NATO operations worldwide. SHAPE is situated in the village of Casteau, near Mons, Belgium.[1]

ACO's and SHAPE's commander is titled Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and is always a U.S. four-star general officer or flag officer who also serves as Commander, U.S. European Command.

From 1951 to 2003, SHAPE was the headquarters of Allied Command Europe (ACE). Since 2003 SHAPE has been the headquarters of ACO, controlling NATO also outside Europe. Even though the geographical scope of its activities was extended, SHAPE retained its traditional name with reference to Europe.[2]

  1. ^ Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 241. ISBN 9780850451634.
  2. ^ Pedlow, Evolution of NATO's Command Structure 1951-2009.