NATO wants to drastically increase the number of rapid reaction forces

Created: 2022-06-27Updated: 2022-06-27 13:23

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is now announcing a restructuring of the NRF intervention force - and cites an impressive number.

BRUSSELS - Russia's war against Ukraine is prompting the NATO countries to do significantly more for their defense.

Now NATO wants to increase the number of its rapid reaction forces to more than 300,000.

This was announced by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday before the summit of the 30 member states in Madrid.

So far, the NATO intervention force NRF has comprised around 40,000 soldiers.

The planned restructuring of the NRF is part of a new force model for the entire alliance area.

This provides for more forces on high alert.

In addition, forces should also be assigned to certain areas.

This means that German soldiers could be scheduled to support Lithuanian troops in the event of a Russian attack.

NATO intervention force NRF is to be significantly strengthened

In peacetime, the troops should generally be under national command, but could then be requested by the supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe (Saceur) in an emergency.

The troops would also be given fixed times for operational readiness.

It is being discussed that some units should be ready for laying within ten days at most, others in 30 or 50 days.

Details for emergencies are to be specified in new regional defense plans, which should be ready in the coming year (dpa)