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NATO Response Force: Exercise in Lower Saxony
Photo: IMAGO/Rainer Droese / IMAGO/localpic
Germany is offering around 15,000 soldiers to expand the new NATO intervention force, which should be ready to fight within just 10 days in the event of a crisis.
"Germany is ready to make its contribution," said Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht before the start of the NATO summit in Madrid.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had previously announced that the new and rapidly deployable intervention force would have a strength of 300,000 troops.
With the so-called “New Forces Model”, which NATO intends to adopt at the summit, a spectacular mobilization of the alliance is initiated.
So far, the NATO nations have kept a good 40,000 soldiers in the "NATO Response Force" (NRF), who can be deployed quickly, in the event of a crisis or an attack on alliance territory.
Germany is currently providing around 12,000 soldiers for the NRF.
They must be ready to move within a short period of time, in military jargon this is referred to as a "notice to move" period.
The Bundeswehr will also participate with fighter jets and warships
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense told SPIEGEL that the "New Forces Model" is a "decisive step for our external security."
The old model of the NRF "no longer meets the current challenges, especially with regard to NATO's eastern flank".
The Bundeswehr will participate in the new structure with a mechanized division with two combat troop brigades.
In addition, there are 65 fighter jets and transport aircraft, 20 warships and also units of the special forces commando (KSK).
Lambrecht's house made no secret of where NATO sees potential threats.
"Not least in view of the Russian willingness to use violence, forces are needed that are available regionally more quickly," emphasized the spokesman.
The new structure should be in place by 2024.
In the Bundeswehr, the 1st Armored Division is already preparing for the NATO obligations.
The division, whose command is based in Oldenburg, is already providing forces for NATO reinforcements on the eastern flank, while the Bundeswehr is leading the corresponding units in Lithuania.
Reported units should be assigned to specific regions
Another innovation of the "New Forces Model" is that the deadlines for the troops have been tightened again.
So far, the 10-day rule for the readiness of the units to march has applied.
In the new documents, however, there is talk of a »notice to effect«.
The first troop units must therefore not only be ready to leave within 10 days, but also have to arrive at the place of action and be ready for combat;
the rest in 30 days at the latest.
For the Bundeswehr, which continues to suffer from clear deficiencies, it will be a challenge to prove to NATO by 2024 that this is possible.
Another new feature of the model is that the units reported by the alliance partners are assigned to specific regions.
Germany will keep its forces ready primarily for the eastern flank of the alliance.
In Lithuania there is already a so-called Battle Group of around 1000 soldiers.
This is to be strengthened in the months after the summit so that the Bundeswehr can increase its forces to a combat brigade within a very short time in the event of a crisis.
Such consists of a good 3500 soldiers and heavy combat equipment such as tanks and artillery.
Scholz announces "large share" of Germany
Even before the summit began, Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that Germany was prepared to do more for the alliance.
In an ARD interview, he literally announced that Germany would play a "large part" in the strengthening of NATO.
"Everything that we have to contribute with our large share, we will also contribute with our large share," said the Chancellor.
The main aim is to improve the alliance's operational capability.
The chancellor referred to the much-discussed "turning point" that he initiated after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
For example, Germany will “spend around 70 to 80 billion euros a year on defense on average over the next few years”.
This makes Germany the country that invests the most in this regard.
Next to the USA, Germany is now the largest investor in the security of the alliance.
By upgrading the Bundeswehr, Germany will provide the largest conventional army in Europe, said the Chancellor.
The German decisions should be well received at the summit, especially in the USA Berlin is seen as a pacesetter for the other partners in Europe.
As a result, no criticism can be expected from US President Joe Biden in Madrid, but rather warm praise similar to that at the G7 summit.
Only the eastern allies, above all the Baltic states, are not entirely satisfied with the plans for rearmament on the eastern flank.
There one would have wished for the permanent stationing of NATO troops at the level of a brigade.
However, it is rather unlikely that the dissatisfaction will show up on the open stage.
Behind the scenes, the US has assured its eastern partners in recent weeks that they can rely on Washington in an emergency.
At the same time, the designated new military chief of NATO, US General Christopher G. Cavoli, will make sure that the Europeans keep their promises made at the summit over the next few months.
Cavoli knows the weaknesses of the Bundeswehr very well.
In recent years he has commanded all of the US troops in Europe from Germany.
