Ministerio de Defensa Ejército de tierra
Ministerio de Defensa Ejército de tierra
Ministerio de Defensa Ejército de tierra
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ARMY UNITS

News

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

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Spanish NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (HQ NRDC-ESP) will lead the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in 2016

Minister of defense visit the exercise TRJR 14

HQ NRDC ESP

Logo exercise TREJ14

HQ NRDC ESP

Defence Ministers met on the 5th of February in Brussels and decided to enhace the NATO Response Force as part of NATO´s adaption measures.

HQ NRDC-ESP will command the new Spearhead Force (Very High Readiness Joint Task Force) in 2016, as the flagship element of the enhanced NRF. This will comprise a multinational brigade (approximately 5,000 troops), with up to five battalions, supported by air, maritime and special forces. Some troops will be ready to move within two to three days.

The Defence Ministers agreed on the size and scope of a new very high readiness force or Spearhead Force. “We decided that this very high readiness force will consist of a land brigade of around 5,000 troops. These will be supported by air, sea and special forces,” said Mr Stoltenberg. He said the Spearhead Force would be backed up by two more brigades “as a rapid reinforcement capability in case of a major crisis. Altogether, the enhanced NATO Response Force will count up to around 30,000 troops.”

Defence Ministers also decided to immediately establish six command and control units in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. “If a crisis arises, they will ensure that national and NATO forces from across the Alliance are able to act as one from the start. They will make rapid deployment easier. Support planning for collective defence. And help coordinate training and exercises,” said the Secretary General.

At NATO’s Wales Summit in September 2014, Allied leaders approved a Readiness Action Plan to ensure the Alliance is ready to respond swiftly and firmly to new security challenges.

The plan provides a comprehensive package of measures to respond to the changes in the security environment in and near Europe. It responds to the challenges posed by Russia as well as the risks emanating from the southern neighbourhood, Middle East and North Africa. These measures are defensive, proportionate, and fully in line with NATO’s international obligations.
 
 
The Readiness Action Plan contains two pillars:
 
Assurance Measures – enhanced presence of NATO forces on the territory of eastern Allies, on a rotational basis.

Adaptation measures will enhance NATO’s military posture and readiness levels.

In the meantime, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway are leading an interim Spearhead Force, which is already training and exercising.