MILEX 25-II Concludes at the MPCC in Brussels

As 2025 draws to a close, the EU continued to test the alert procedures of the MPCC, also known as the Brussels Operations Headquarters (OHQ), as well as the deployment readiness of the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) through the ongoing EU Military Exercise Series (MILEX).

MILEX 25-II was conducted as a Command Post Exercise (CPX) in Brussels and Portugal, and for the past four weeks the corridors of the EUMS and MPCC have been bustling with planners, augmentees, and exercise control staff managing an intensive training programme. The objective was clear: to strengthen the EU's military capabilities, preparedness, and ability to respond swiftly and effectively-within the integrated approach-to emerging external crises under MPCC leadership.

The exercise unfolded in two parts: the Crisis Response Planning Phase (05-21 November) and the Execution Phase (01-05 December). During MILEX 25-II, the MPCC served as the designated EU OHQ in Brussels; the Reach Back Capability (RBC) was provided by the Multinational Joint Headquarters in Ulm, Germany; and the EU Force Headquarters (FHQ) was established in Santa Margarida, Portugal.

EUMS

MILEX 25-II EU Force Headquarters (FHQ) Santa Margarida, Portugal.

Scenario - The exercise scenario centred on a Peace Enforcement (PE) operation in a fictitious West African country, Seglia. Faced with an escalating security crisis, the President of Seglia requested EU support to deploy a Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operation to enforce durable peace. The scenario integrated multidimensional challenges reflective of modern crises, including cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, violent demonstrations, irregular migration flows, humanitarian rights violations, sabotage of key infrastructure, and the activities of irregular armed groups.

Planning Phase - Unlike its predecessor, MILEX 25-II did not include a live exercise (LIVEX) component. However, the exercise remained heavily focused on strengthening military decision-making structures and procedures at the strategic and operational levels. Over the past ten months, the Exercise Planning Team (EPT), composed of subject-matter experts from both the EUMS and the MPCC and reinforced by specialists from the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission, and other relevant stakeholders, worked intensively to design an exercise structure that would test all phases of crisis response planning.

Following the development of the Initiating Military Directive (IMD) and the simulated transfer of authority from the EUMS to the OHQ on 05 November, the MPCC-reinforced by the Multinational Joint Headquarters Ulm-and the FHQ conducted concurrent planning to develop the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and the Operation Plan (OPLAN).

A Mentoring Team consisting of personnel from EUNAVFOR Operation ASPIDES, together with a representative from the Slovakian General Training Staff and a representative from the Multinational Joint Headquarters Ulm, supported the MPCC in guiding and advising the headquarters throughout the exercise.

MPCC

Execution Phase - After a brief pause to allow the EXCON to finalise the sequencing and scripting of exercise injects, the Execution Phase of MILEX 25-II commenced on 01 December and ran until 05 December. During this period, the OHQ and FHQ executed a designated phase of the OPLAN, responding to planned injects that required commanders and planners to assess, adapt, and refine their decisions in real time in order to accomplish the mission as outlined in the OPLAN.

The Execution Phase concluded with an End-of-Exercise Social, during which members of the Exercise Control Team, MPCC personnel, augmentees, representatives from the FHQ in Santa Margarida, SMEs, and the mentoring team were able to enjoy well-deserved downtime after an intensive and productive four-week exercise period.

MPCC

Col Nuno Silva from the Portuguese FHQ Mechanised Brigade was part of the Exercise Control Team in Brussels.

Lessons Learned - As with all complex exercises, continuous improvement is essential. MILEX 25-II incorporates a robust lessons-learned component within the After-Action Review (AAR). Submissions will be gathered not only from the MPCC but from all participating entities, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of performance across the exercise. This process enables the EU to refine operational procedures and enhance its capacity to rapidly support the security and defence of EU citizens and interests.

Looking Ahead - Guided by the Strategic Compass, the EU continues to build a structured training cycle that maintains readiness for future challenges. Planning for MILEX 26 / RDC LIVEX 26 is already underway and will again involve the MPCC as the OHQ, EUROCORPS as the FHQ, and a Spanish-led Rapid Response Force. The exercise will culminate in a live deployment at the "CENAD San Gregorio" Training Camp in Zaragoza, Spain, in June 2026.