NATO ACO - Allied Command Operations

Allied Command Operations (ACO) is responsible for the planning and execution of all Alliance operations. It consists of a small number of permanently established headquarters, each with a specific role. Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) assumes the overall command of operations at the strategic level and exercises his responsibilities from the headquarters in Mons, Belgium: Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, more commonly known as SHAPE.

ACO is one of two Strategic Commands within NATO's military command structure; the other is Allied Command Transformation (ACT), which – as its name indicates – leads the transformation of NATO's military structure, forces, capabilities and doctrine. Together with their subordinate organisations, they form what is called the NATO Command Structure (NCS), whose function is first and foremost to be able to respond to security threats to the Alliance and, should deterrence fail, provide a capable and effective military response to an armed attack against the territory of any of the NATO Allies.