NATO CHIEFS OF DEFENCE DISCUSS THE WAY AHEAD WITH … · NATO CHIEFS OF DEFENCE DISCUSS THE WAY AHEAD WITH THE READINESS ACTION PLAN AND NATO’S FUTURE POSTURE ... Assurance measures

NATO CHIEFS OF DEFENCE DISCUSS THE WAY AHEAD WITH THE

READINESS ACTION PLAN AND NATO’S FUTURE POSTURE

12 Sep. 2015

Last updated: 12 Sep. 2015 21:12

During the 2015 NATO Military Committee Conference, the 28 Allied Chiefs of Defence

took stock of the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan (RAP) and agreed that

the conditions are set for the RAP to be delivered in time for the Warsaw Summit next

year. “The Chiefs of Defence also stressed the need to ensure that NATO forces and

equipment can move rapidly across the Alliance, as NATO’s greatest responsibility is to

protect and defend our Allies – the 28 Member States – against any threat”, General

Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee said at the MC Conference in

Istanbul, Turkey.

NATO’s Future Posture and long-term military strategy was another key topic

discussed by the Chiefs of Defence. The Military Committee emphasized the need to

ensure NATO’s Command Structure remains robust, agile and able to deter any threats

or challenges facing the Alliance. “NATO continues to adapt and respond to the

challenges in both its Eastern and Southern flanks, keeping our countries safe”, General

Petr Pavel stated during his press conference.

During the session on the RESOLUTE SUPPORT Mission in Afghanistan, the Chiefs of

Defence reiterated their commitment for the Mission and their confidence in the

Afghan defence forces who continue to rise to the challenge of protecting their own

population. The Chiefs of Defence highlighted that RESOLUTE SUPPORT is still NATO’s

largest Mission and it shows the Alliance’s determination to preserve the gains

achieved together with the Afghans. In addition, discussions touched upon NATO’s

presence post-RESOLUTE SUPPORT. “The Chiefs of Defence underlined that a successful

transition from RESOLUTE SUPPORT into the civilian-led presence needs to be

conditions-based”, General Pavel added.

NATO Chiefs of Defence also discussed the ways of enhancing NATO’s partnerships in

the Western Balkans, stressing NATO’s continued commitment to regional stability –

including through KFOR’s presence, cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The conference concluded with the Chiefs of Defence electing Lieutenant General Jan

Broeks of the Royal Netherlands Armed Forces as the next Director General of the

International Military Staff.

THE READINESS ACTION PLAN

Last updated: 01 Sep. 2015 16:55

At the 2014 Wales Summit, NATO agreed a Readiness Action Plan (RAP) to ensure the

Alliance is ready to respond swiftly and firmly to new security challenges. This is the

most significant reinforcement of NATO's collective defence since the end of the Cold

War. The RAP addresses risks and threats from the east and the south.

Highlights

Due to the changed security environment on NATO’s borders, the RAP includes

‘assurance measures’ for NATO member countries in Central and Eastern Europe to

reassure their populations, reinforce their defence and deter potential aggression.

Assurance measures comprise a series of land, sea and air activities in, on and around

the NATO’s eastern flank, which are reinforced by exercises focused on collective

defence and crisis management.

The RAP also includes ‘adaptation measures’ which are longer-term changes to

NATO’s forces and command structure so that the Alliance will be better able to react

swiftly and decisively to sudden crises.

Adaptation measures include tripling the strength of the NATO Response Force

(NRF), creating a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) that is able to deploy at

very short notice, and enhancing the Standing Naval Forces.

To facilitate readiness and the rapid deployment of forces, six NATO Force

Integration Units (NFIUs) - which are small headquarters - are being established in

Central and Eastern Europe, along with a headquarters for the Multinational Corps

Northeast in Szczecin, Poland, and a standing joint logistics support group

headquarters.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Fact Sheet

NATO’s Readiness Action Plan“In order to ensure that our Alliance is ready to respond swiftly and firmly to the new security challenges, today we have approved the NATO Readiness Action Plan. It provides a coherent and comprehensive package of necessary measures to respond to the changes in the security environment on NATO’s borders and further afield that are of concern to Allies.

It responds to the challenges posed by Russia and their strategic implications. It also responds to the risks and threats emanating from our southern neighbourhood, the Middle East and North Africa.

“The Plan strengthens NATO’s collective defence. It also strengthens our crisis management capability. The Plan will contribute to ensuring that NATO remains a strong, ready, robust, and responsive Alliance capable of meeting current and future challenges from wherever they may arise.”

- NATO Wales Summit declaration, 5 September 2014

NATO’s Readiness Action Plan includes immediate reinforcements of NATO’s presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, which have been in place since May 2014 (“assurance measures”), and longer-term changes to NATO’s force posture which are currently being implemented (“adaptation measures”). The adaptation measures will increase our readiness and allow the Alliance to deal with any security challenges, including those emanating from the east and the south.

Assurance Measures - immediate increased military presence and activity for assurance and deterrence in the eastern part of the Alliance.

Adaptation Measures - changes to the Alliance’s long-term military posture and capabilities to enable it to respond more quickly to emergencies wherever they arise.

Assurance MeasuresThe assurance measures are a series of land, sea and air activities in, on and around the territory of NATO Allies in Central and Eastern Europe, designed to reinforce their defence, reassure their populations and deter potential aggression. These are a direct result of Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine.

All 28 Allies are contributing to these measures on a rotational basis. The measures can be stepped up or reduced as necessary, depending on the security situation.

Since May 2014, as part of the Assurance Measures NATO has:

• Increased the number of fighter jets on air-policing patrols over the Baltic States, and deployed fighter jets to Romania and Poland.

• Belgium, Italy, Norway and the United Kingdom took over air-policing duties on 1 May 2015. • Portugal and the United States have also deployed aircraft to Romania for training purposes. • Commenced regular AWACS surveillance flights over the territory of our eastern Allies, and

maritime patrol aircraft flights along our eastern borders.• Conducted intensified maritime patrols in the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean

with the Standing NATO Maritime Groups and Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Groups.

• Deployed ground troops to the eastern parts of the Alliance for training and exercises, on a rotational basis.

May 2015

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Fact Sheet

• Conducted more exercises focused on crisis management and collective defence. Major exercises in 2015 include Joint Warrior (11 – 23 April: naval exercise in the North Atlantic - 13,000 troops); Dynamic Mongoose (4 –15 May: anti-submarine warfare exercise off Norway - 5,000 troops); Baltops (5 – 20 June: naval and amphibious exercise in the Baltic Sea - 4,500 troops); Sabre Strike (8 – 19 June: land exercise in the Baltic states and Poland - 3,000 troops); Noble Jump (10 – 21 June: first deployment test for the new high readiness force to Poland - 2,100 troops); Trident Joust (17 – 28 June: headquarter exercise in Bulgaria, Romania and Italy - 1,500 troops) and Trident Juncture (21 October – 6 November: Italy, Portugal and Spain - 25,000 troops).

• Several Allies have also sent ground and air forces to Eastern Europe for training and exercises on a bilateral basis. For example, the United States moved hundreds of troops and vehicles through Eastern Europe with operation Dragoon Ride in April 2015. In May 2015, France is sending Leclerc tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to Poland for training, and Germany announced plans to send 1,700 troops to the region.

Adaptation MeasuresAdaptation measures are longer-term changes to NATO’s forces and command structure which will make the Alliance better able to react swiftly and decisively to sudden crises, whether these arise to the east or the south.

They include:

• Making the NATO Response Force (NRF) more responsive and capable. The NRF will be roughly doubled from the current level of 13,000 troops, depending on the task it is needed for. This will include land, sea, air and special forces components. At the same time, a new quick-reaction “Spearhead Force” (Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, or VJTF) of around 5,000 ground troops supported by air, maritime and special forces will be created. Their lead elements will be able to start deploying in just 48 hours. The Spearhead and NRF forces will be based in their home countries, but be able to deploy from there to wherever they are needed for exercises or crisis response. Leadership and membership of the VJTF and NRF will rotate on an annual basis. Germany, the Netherlands and Norway have already established an interim Spearhead force, while the full force is scheduled to stand up in 2016. Six Allies - France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom - have already offered to serve as lead nations.

• Enhancing NATO’s Standing Naval Forces with more ships and more types of ships.• Establishing multinational NATO command and control posts on the territories of the eastern Allies (Bulgaria, Estonia,

Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania), manned on a rotational basis. These NATO Force Integration Units (NFIUs) would be staffed by national and NATO specialists. Their task would be to improve cooperation and coordination between NATO and national forces, and prepare and support exercises and any deployments needed.

• Raising the readiness and capabilities of the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast in Szczecin in Poland and enhancing its role as a hub for regional cooperation.

• Pre-positioning military supplies on the territory of eastern Allies.• Improving NATO’s ability to reinforce its eastern Allies through preparation of national infrastructure, such as airfields and

ports.• Updating defence plans for Eastern Europe.

Public Diplomacy Division (PDD) – Press & Media Section – Media Operations Centre (MOC) Tel.: +32(0)2 707 1010/1002

E-mail: [email protected]

www.nato.int

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Resolute Support Mission

RSM Command in KABUL

RSM Headquarters

Commander: General John F. Campbell (USA)

RSM Command in KABUL

Deputy Commander: Lieutenant General Carsten

Jacobson, (DEU)

Train, Advise and Assist Command (TAAC)

Capital:

Headquarter TAAC(C) in Kabul (TUR)

Commander: Brigadier General Şafak Gök (TUR)

Train, Advise and Assist Command (TAAC)

North:

Headquarter TAAC(N) in Mazar-e Sharif (DEU)

Commander: Brigadier General Andreas

Hannemann (DEU)

Commander: General John F. Campbell (USA)

NATO Senior Civilian Representative: Ambassador Ismail Aramaz (TUR)

42 Contributing Nations

RSM Total Strength: 13,223

June 2015

Mission: The Resolute Support mission (RSM) is a new NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan security

forces and institutions. The mission was launched on 1 January 2015, immediately following the stand-down of the

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The legal framework for the Resolute Support mission is provided by a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), signed in

Kabul on 30 September 2014 and ratified by the Afghan Parliament on 27 November 2014. The SOFA defines the terms

and conditions under which NATO forces are deployed, as well as the activities they are authorised to carry out. The

mission is also supported by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2189, unanimously adopted on 12 December

2014.

The Resolute Support mission will provide training, advice and assistance in eight key areas: multi-year budgeting;

transparency, accountability and oversight; civilian oversight of the Afghan Security Institutions; force generation; force

sustainment; strategy and policy planning, resourcing and execution; intelligence; and strategic communications.

Those countries not contributing troops to the Resolute Support Mission are supporting this mission in different ways, as

well as the broad effort to strengthen the sustainment of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) in the

long term.

Beyond this training, advice and assistance mission, Allies and partner countries will also contribute to the financing of the

Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, and will enhance the Enduring Partnership with Afghanistan, by

strengthening political consultations with the country and by strengthening practical cooperation in areas of specific interest

for Afghanistan.

These efforts are part of the broader engagement of the international community in Afghanistan to ensure that Afghanistan

is never again a safe haven for terrorism.

Resolute Support Mission (RSM): Key Facts and Figures

Train, Advise and Assist Command (TAAC) East:

Headquarter TAAC(W) in Laghman (USA)

Commander: Brigadier General Christopher F. Bentley

(USA)

Train, Advise and Assist Command (TAAC) South:

Headquarter TAAC(S) in Kandahar (USA)

Commander: Brigadier General Viet X. Luong (USA)

Train, Advise and Assist Command (TAAC) West:

Headquarter TAAC(W) in Herat (ITA)

Commander: Brigadier General Michele Risi (ITA)

Resolute Support Mission

Troop Contributing Nations

June 2015

1 Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.

2 See links to media backgrounder on “A new chapter in NATO-Afghanistan relations from 2015” and to media backgrounder on the ANA Trust Fund.

Note on numbers: The number of troops above reflects the overall contribution of individual contributing nations. They should be taken as indicative as they change daily, in accordance

with the deployment procedures of the individual troop contributing nations.

Albania 42 Germany 850 Poland 150

Armenia 121 Greece 4 Portugal 10

Australia 400 Hungary 97 Romania 650

Austria 10 Iceland 4 Slovakia 39

Azerbaijan 94 Ireland 7 Slovenia 7

Belgium 43 Italy 500 Spain 294

Bosnia-Herzegovina 53 Latvia 25 Sweden 30

Bulgaria 110 Lithuania 70the former Yugoslav

Republic of Macedonia1 39

Croatia 107 Luxembourg 1 Turkey 503

Czech Republic 236 Mongolia 120 Ukraine 10

Denmark 160 Montenegro 17 United Kingdom 470

Estonia 4 Netherlands 83 United States 6,834

Finland 80 New Zealand 8 Total 13,223

Georgia 885 Norway 56

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Fact Sheet

NATO Force Integration UnitsAs part of NATO’s adaptation to security challenges from the east and the south, the Alliance is opening six Force Integra-tion Units in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. This follows a decision taken at the Wales Sum-mit in September 2014 as part of NATO’s Readiness Action Plan: a comprehensive package of measures designed to respond to the changed security environment on the Alliance’s borders.

The NATO Force Integration Units (NFIUs) have been active as of September 1, 2015. They are expected to be fully op-erational ahead of the Warsaw Summit in 2016. The NFIUs are based in Sofia (Bulgaria), Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia), Vilnius (Lithuania), Bydgoszcz (Poland) and Bucharest (Romania).

NATO’s core task is to keep Allies safe. These small headquarters represent a visible and persistent NATO presence in these six Allies. All NATO steps to reinforce collective defence and increase its readiness are defensive, proportionate and in line with our international commitments.

September 2015

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Fact Sheet

What will these NFIUs do? These small headquarters will help facilitate the rapid deployment of Allied forces to the Eastern part of the Alliance, support collective defence planning and assist in coordinating training and exercises. They are not military bases. The NFIUs are a vital link between national forces and forces of other NATO Allies. They will also work with host nations to identify logistical networks, transportation routes and supporting infrastructure to ensure that NATO’s high-readiness forces can deploy to the region as quickly as possible and work together effectively to help keep our nations safe.

How will they be staffed? Each unit will be manned by around 40 national and NATO staff. Each host nation will provide 20 national staff and NATO Allies will provide 20 multinational staff on a rotational basis.

How were the locations chosen? The decision on the location of the NFIUs was taken by the North Atlantic Council, following invitation by the host nations and a military assessment. To further enhance the responsiveness of the Alliance, NATO is currently considering establishing additional NFIUs.

Who will pay for the NFIUs?As with all NATO deployments, the staff working at the NFIUs will be paid by their respective nations. Construction and maintenance costs for the buildings are covered by the host nations. Part of the costs are covered through common funding which is paid for by all 28 Allies. This includes, for instance, the provision of collectively owned equipment such as computers and communication links.

The NFIUs are part of NATO’s readiness action plan These small headquarters are part of the biggest reinforcement of NATO’s collective defence since the end of the Cold War. At the Wales Summit in September 2014, Allied leaders approved the Readiness Action Plan: a comprehensive package of measures to respond to the changed security environment on NATO’s borders. The activation of the NFIUs demonstrates that the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan is on track and on time. NATO is also increasing the speed and strength of its rapid-reaction forces, which will consist of up to 40,000 troops. Their core is the Spearhead Force, whose lead elements will be able to start operating in as little as 48 hours. NATO has also made its decision-making quicker and more effective. And it is setting up a new logistics headquarters, to help move troops across the Alliance more quickly when needed.

Public Diplomacy Division (PDD) – Press & Media Section – Media Operations Centre (MOC) Tel.: +32(0)2 707 1010/1002

E-mail: [email protected]

www.nato.int

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