NATO Response Force NRF soldiers train in Romania

On a training ground in Romania, French and Belgian soldiers from the NATO Response Force have been training alongside their Romanian counterparts and instructors from Poland. French and Belgian soldiers from the NATO Response Force (NRF) have been conducting tactical and ambush training in Romania. They arrived in Romania soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, marking the first time that elements of the NRF have been activated for deterrence and defence. #WeAreNATO #NATO #Romania #EUarmy This year, France is leading the highest readiness element of the NRF - a multinational force comprised of up to 40,000 land, air, maritime and special operations personnel that NATO can deploy quickly, wherever needed. Footage includes shots of NRF forces training alongside the Romanian infantry with instructors from Poland. It also includes soundbites from Sergeant Adrian and 2nd Lieutenant Claire from the NATO Response Force. The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces (SOF) components that the Alliance can deploy quickly, wherever needed. In addition to its operational role, the NRF can be used for greater cooperation in education and training, increased exercises, support for disaster relief and better use of technology. The NRF consists of a highly capable joint multinational force able to react in a very short time to the full range of security challenges from crisis management to collective defence. NATO Allies decided to enhance the NRF in 2014 by creating a “spearhead force” within it, known as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). This enhanced NRF is one of the measures of the Readiness Action Plan (RAP), which aims to respond to the changes in the security environment and strengthen the Alliance’s collective defence. Overall command of the NRF belongs to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). In response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO activated elements of the NRF for the first time in a deterrence and defence role. Allies have placed thousands of additional troops – along with armoured vehicles, artillery units, ships and aircraft – at high readiness earmarked for the NRF, ensuring that it continues to have the speed, responsiveness and capability to defend NATO territory and populations. The NRF has the overarching purpose of being able to provide a rapid military response to an emerging crisis, whether for collective defence purposes or for other crisis-response operations. The NRF gives the Alliance the means to respond swiftly to various types of crises anywhere in the world. It is also a driving engine for NATO’s military transformation. A rotational force The NRF is based on a rotational system where Allied countries commit land, air, maritime or Special Operations Forces (SOF) units for a period of 12 months. The NRF is also open to partner countries, once approved by the North Atlantic Council. Participation in the NRF is preceded by national preparation, followed by training with other participants in the multinational force. As units rotate through the NRF, the associated high standards, concepts and technologies are gradually spread throughout the Alliance, thereby fulfilling one of the key purposes of the NATO Response Force – the further transformation of Allied forces. A powerful package NATO Allies decided at the 2014 Wales Summit to enhance the NRF by creating a “spearhead force” within it, known as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force or VJTF. This enhanced NRF is one of the measures of the Readiness Action Plan (RAP) agreed by Allies to respond to the changes in the security environment. The enhanced NATO Response Force includes: a command and control element: Operational command of the NRF alternates between Allied Joint Force Commands in Brunssum and Naples; the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF): This NRF element – about 20,000 strong – includes a multinational land brigade of around 5,000 troops and air, maritime and SOF components. Leading elements are ready to move within two to three days. Allies assume the lead role for the VJTF on a rotational basis; the Initial Follow-On Forces Group (IFFG): These are high-readiness forces that can deploy quickly following the VJTF, in response to a crisis. They are made up of two multinational brigades; a maritime component: it is based on the Standing NATO Maritime Groups (SNMGs) and the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups (SNMCMGs); a combat air and air-support component; Special Operations Forces; and a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence task force. Before use, the NRF will be tailored (adjusted in size and capability) to match the demands of any specific operation to which it is committed.