Its missions are three-fold: to participate in the collective defence of NATO territory, under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, to contribute to multinational crisis management including peace support operations, and to provide command and control for humanitarian, rescue, and disaster relief operations.

In July 1997, Ministers of Defence of Denmark, Germany and Poland decided to establish a Danish-German-Polish Corps.

The Headquarters Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland (LANDJUT) from Rendsburg in Germany was to form the nucleus of this new command.

On 18 September 1999, the three Framework Nations – Denmark, Germany, Poland – could hoist their flags in the Baltic Barracks, the seat of the Corps in Szczecin.

For common purposes of practice and training the corps was assigned to Joint Sub-Regional Command Northeast (JSRC NE), at Karup, Denmark.

Officers and NCO's from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are serving at Multinational Corps North East.

From January to August 2007 a considerable number of personnel from Multinational Corps Northeast were put at the disposal of International Security Assistance Force's headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The MNC NE staff formed part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021).

The majority of the MNC NE staff filled the posts in a newly established composite ISAF Headquarters in Kabul.