The Centre's Multinational Division Command is simply a tactical command unit that ensures the integration of NATO formation and capabilities in central Europe. Deputy Secretary General of the Alliance, Radmila Shekerinska, called the accomplishment of full operational capability by Command a milestone as it plays a key function in protecting the east flank.
– The strength lies not only in arms and numbers, but besides in the readiness and will to defend what is dear to us," said the Hungarian national defence minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. It is in Hungary that Székesfehérvár is the office of the Centre's Multinational Division Command (HQ MND-C), which was established little than 3 years ago (May 2022), and officially reached full operational capability on February 10, 2025.
The Pillars of the Multinational Division of the Centre are 3 countries: Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia. Minister Shalay-Bobrovniczky stressed that HQ MND-C is now ready and able to participate in the command and control of NATO operations in the region in the event of any crisis or conflict. “Our historical experience clearly shows that the peoples of this region play a key function in protecting the values of Europe and with it our common culture”, added the Hungarian minister.
Robert Kalinák, Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia, said that the current geopolitical situation is very unstable and unpredictable, making cooperation between the 3 framework countries crucial. Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy Secretary-General of NATO, stressed the critical function played by MND-C Command in strengthening the safety of the east Alliance flank. So far there has been a deficiency of permanent command in that region that could guide and control NATO's collective defence and crisis management operations. According to Shekerinska, the presence of Command is simply a clear signal that NATO's deterrence and defence attitude is strong and the Alliance is united.
The Command of the Multinational Division Center is another component emphasizing the presence of NATO forces on the alleged east flank. another Commands are in Romania (South East Multinational Division Command – HQ MND-SE), Poland (North East Multinational Division Command – HQ MND-NE) and in Denmark and Latvia (Multinational North Division Command – HQ MND-N).
The MND-C office is home to representatives of 3 framework countries, namely Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia, but besides 7 another NATO countries: Poland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, Slovenia and Turkey. The current commander is Slovak, his deputy Hungarian, and the chief of staff is Croatian general. These positions shall be filled in a rotational system.
According to the Hungarian Ministry of Defence, MND-C Command will shortly be engaged in further improvement of the structures and adaptation of command systems, as well as full integration of the Hungarian and Slovak Extant Multinational NATO Combat Groups, which will shortly be subordinate to it.
