NATO Response Force

The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a high-readiness NATO rapid deployment force comprising land, sea, air, and special forces units capable of being deployed quickly within short notice. The NRF comprises more than 500,000 troops. Its forces include units from several non-NATO member partners, including Ukraine (since 2014), and Georgia (since 2015).

The NRF was formed in June 2003 per endorsements at the 2002 Prague summit. Units assigned to the NRF were only used for disaster relief and security until February 2022, when it was activated for the first time in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, it was replaced by .

Structure

The NRF structure consists of four parts:

*Command and Control element: Based on a deployable Joint Task Force HQ.
*Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF): High-readiness "spearhead force" that can deploy wherever needed at short notice.
*Initial Follow On Forces Group (IFFG): High-readiness forces that can deploy following the VJTF in response to a crisis.
*Response Forces Pool (RFP): A broad spectrum of military capabilities encompassing command and control, combat forces, and support units, drawn from the national forces of NATO members and non-member allies.

Rotating forces through the NRF requires nations to meet the demanding standards needed for collective defense and expeditionary operations. As its standards are very high, participation in the NRF is preceded by a six-month NATO exercise program to integrate and standardize the various national contingents. Generally, nations carry out a pre-training period in preparation for the NATO exercises, lasting between 6–18 months. Once activated, Reconnaissance Teams deploy within 5 days. This is the first of a number of deployment phases that lead to the deployment of the entire HQ Joint Task Force and Immediate Reaction Forces within 30 days.

The NRF trains for various tasks, including:
* providing immediate collective defence of Alliance members in the event of an Article V operation
* crisis management
* acting as the initial force deployment as a precursor to deployment of a much larger force
* peace support
* disaster relief
* protection of critical infrastructure

History

Creation and early years

The NRF concept was first endorsed with a declaration of NATO's Heads of State at the Prague Summit on 22 November 2002 and approved by NATO Defence Ministers in June 2003. Dual headquarters were created in Naples, Italy and Brunssum, Netherlands; command rotates annually between them. In 2004 and 2005, NRF units were activated for a small number of civilian missions, including to provide security at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the Afghan presidential elections, as well as to provide humanitarian assistance in the United States after Hurricane Katrina and in Pakistan after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. Due to equipment shortages, unfulfilled troop commitments and falling political support among member countries, the size of the NRF was cut in half in 2007 and not used again until 2022. During the 2014 Wales summit following the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, NATO leaders agreed to reorganize the NRF's core troops into a "spearhead force" known as a "Very High Readiness Joint Task Force" (VJTF) designed to be able to deploy at 48 hours notice, although the actual level of readiness was generally several weeks. It was also for the first time linked explicitly to NATO's Article 5 obligations. Altogether, it amounted to around 30,000 troops.

For most of its existence, the lack of enthusiasm of NATO's member states for the NRF resulted in chronic equipment and personnel shortages. It was sometimes branded a wasteful failure and an insignificant force next to NATO's more established units. Nevertheless, some military scholars argue that it played a significant role in modernizing European militaries as their troops rotated through it.

Russo-Ukrainian War

As Russian troops built up around Ukraine in early 2022, various units attached to the NRF were alerted or deployed. On 11 February 2022, a U.S. Army brigade combat team of about 4,700 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division was ordered to Poland, while a Stryker squadron (battalion-sized cavalry unit) was sent from Vilseck's Rose Barracks to Romania. Caitlin Doornboo
(11 Feb 2022) Another 3,000 U.S. troops to deploy to Poland as White House says Russia could invade Ukraine within the week
/ref> On 11 February 2022, F-35A squadrons of the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings deployed from the U.S. to patrol NATO's eastern flank.Rachel S. Cohe
(31 Mar 2023) The US Air Force sent F-35s to defend NATO. Here’s what it learned.
/ref>

On 16 February 2022, 8,500 troops in some of the units that make up the U.S. contribution to the NRF were put on alert for possible rotational deployment to EUCOM's area of responsibility.Jim Garamon
(16 Feb 2022) NATO Leader Says Alliance Is Hoping for Best, Preparing for Worst 
/ref>Alex Hollings
(14 February 2022) 5-MINUTE SUMMARY: WHAT’S GOING ON IN UKRAINE?
/ref> By 25 February 2022, 7,000 troops from this force, including the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division — 4700 troops, plus support units), were deployed to Germany.Meghann Myer
(25 February 2022) Thousands of US troops deploying for first-ever NATO Response Force activation amid Russia attack
/ref> This marked the first time in decades that three U.S. heavy brigades deployed to EUCOM concurrently (the 1st Brigade of the 3rd ID, the 1st Brigade, 1st ID, and an Initial Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division, all to be deployed as needed for the situation).Corey Dickstei
(2 Mar 2022) Fort Stewart soldiers deploying to Europe will draw heavy weapons from Army’s stockpile on the Continent for first time
/ref> Two forward-deployed headquarters, one from V Corps (United States), and the capability for one from XVIII Airborne Corps, were positioned in Poznan, Poland,Rachel Nostran
(4 Mar 2022) V Corps soldiers headed to Europe amid Ukraine invasion
additional V Corps HQ troops, to handle the additional nations, Bulgaria and Hungary, as well as the ongoing 4th SFAB and 2nd Cav Regiment assignments and Wiesbaden, GermanyJim Garamone
(14 Feb 2022) More US troops to deploy to Europe, Guardsmen reassigned out of Ukraine
XVIII Airborne Corps HQ, led by LTG Kurilla respectively, should any further need arise for a proportionate response to a threat to the member states of NATO.Andreas Syta
(16 Feb 2022) Russia 'likely' to launch 'limited' military attack against Ukraine, says Estonian intelligence

After a NATO meeting on 25 February 2022, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the NATO leadership had agreed to deploy part of the NRF to alliance members in Eastern Europe. Stoltenberg said that the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, currently led by France, would be among the units sent. This was the first time the NRF had been activated for a military mission. In light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the NATO Response Force can activate up to 40,000 troops.Lorne Coo
(24 Feb 2022) NATO vows to defend its entire territory after Russia attack
/ref> Eight of NATO's thirty member nations have triggered urgent consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Washington Treaty. In advance of the 2022 Madrid summit, Jens Stoltenberg announced the plan to increase the NRF size to more than 300,000 troops, which was approved during the summit. This has since grown to over 500,000.

See also

* Anglo-French Combined Joint Expeditionary Force
* Eurocorps
* Franco-German Brigade
* Joint Expeditionary Force

References

External links

*

critical NATO Review article


Ukraine's MFA article

NRF Factsheet

The NATO Response Force – Facilitating coalition warfare through technology transfer and information sharing

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Military units and formations of NATO
Military units and formations established in 2003
Rapid reaction force units and formations