Talks on Collective Defence Preparation Tasks
Text: honvedelem.hu / Bettina Sin | Photo: Tünde Rácz | 11:20 July 31, 2026Lieutenant General Kai Rohrschneider, Commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC), and representatives of his staff paid an official visit to Hungary on 28 July. The event was a key stop in a series of country visits within the NATO command’s area of responsibility.
Lieutenant General Rohrschneider held talks with General Zsolt Sándor, Chief of the HDF Defence Staff, and met with Brigadier General Ferenc Solymosi, Commander of the HDF Logistics Support Command. During the technical consultation, the JSEC commander outlined the requirements for the preparation and operation of the Reinforcement and Sustainment Network (RSN).
The RSN is a comprehensive support system that ensures the mobilisation, deployment and supply of NATO forces during NATO collective defence operations. Due to its geographical location, Hungary plays an important role in the deployment of NATO forces. The preparation and operation of the RSN is a task requiring cooperation across the whole government and society, which goes beyond the remit and scope of the HDF. Accordingly, a representative of the organisation responsible for whole-of-government coordination, the Defence Administration Department of the Ministry of Defence, also took part in the technical consultation.
During the visit, the experts reviewed the state of host nation support. The consultations also included preparations for the forthcoming high-visibility NATO exercise, Steadfast Defender 2027. This multinational NATO exercise will test the deployment of troops and the activation and operation of the RSN. Professional consultations such as these and regular communication are essential for cooperation between NATO organisations and member nations.
At the end of his visit, Lieutenant General Kai Rohrschneider spoke highly of Hungary’s efforts in preparing for the RSN and the quality of that work.
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Founded in 2018, the JSEC is one of NATO’s youngest organisations. Its establishment was prompted by the constantly changing security environment affecting Europe as well.
It was established to fit into the North Atlantic Alliance’s military structure and to carry out security, logistical, training and integration tasks in the home front. The organisation is capable, even in peacetime, of supporting, coordinating and leading specific home front operations when necessary. It is in cooperation with relevant NATO and EU organisational elements, institutions, and designated bodies of European allied and partner states.
The organisation achieved full operational capability in September 2021, which indicates the command’s full combat readiness. Since January 2025, the JSEC has been part of NATO’s command structure. The JSEC commander (Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank at that time) last visited Hungary in 2022 to discuss cooperation and to explore opportunities for development and expansion.
