NATO’s military response to Russia. November 2016 update

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details No.7276 (04.11.16)
Publication Date 04/11/2016
Content Type

NATO adopted a Readiness Action Plan in 2014 in response to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. This note explains the main elements with a focus on the UK military contribution.

NATO has adopted a two-pronged response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine 2014. These are divided into what it describes as Assurance and Adaptive measures.

The Assurance measures seek to reassure the members of the Alliance that border Russia. These include bolstering air policing and air surveillance in the Baltics and along NATO’s eastern flank and a more visible military presence in these states by means of additional exercises and training.

The Adaptive measures seek to adapt NATO’s force structure to strengthen the ability of the Alliance to respond to any crisis that may occur. These include significantly enlarging the existing Response Force, creating a new ‘spearhead’ force of around 5,000 troops, and pre-positioning equipment in member states along the eastern flank.

Some of these measures were adopted in April 2014 as part of NATO’s immediate response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. They crystallised into the Readiness Action Plan adopted at NATO’s Summit in September 2014. The Plan reflects what NATO says is the 'most significant strengthening' of its collective defence in decades.

The Main elements of the Readiness Action Plan are:

+ enlarging the existing Response Force from 13,000 to 40,000 troops
+ creating a new very high readiness force (VJTF) of around 5,000 troops
+ appointing a country, drawn from a pool of seven nations, to lead this force
+ Pre-positioning equipment in Baltics and Eastern Europe
+ Establishing six small headquarters in Baltic and eastern European states
+ Speeding up the decision-making for the Response force

Source Link Link to Main Source http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7276/CBP-7276.pdf
Related Links
ESO: Background information: NATO Chiefs of Defence give direction and guidance to implement Wales Summit decisions http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-chiefs-of-defence-give-direction-and-guidance-to-implement-wales-summit-decisions/
Politico, 18.08.15: Behind Putin’s nuclear threats http://www.politico.eu/article/nato-putin-russia-nuclear-weapons-ukraine-war/
Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 11.04.16: Trump, NATO, and Europe’s Security http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=63292
Survival (IISS), April-May 2016: Modernising NATO’s Defence Infrastructure with EU Funds https://www.iiss.org/en/publications/survival/sections/2016-5e13/survival--global-politics-and-strategy-april-may-2016-eb2d/58-2-06-fiott-0182
NATO: SHAPE: Operations: NATO Response Force: Very High Readiness Joint Task Force http://www.shape.nato.int/nato-response-force--very-high-readiness-joint-task-force

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