Germany to lead NATO’s high readiness force in 2023

Europe, News December 31, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Germany is set to take the lead of NATO’s highest-readiness military force on January 1, 2023, as the Russian invasion continues to pose security threats to Europe.

Germany would take the lead of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) from France, which led the Joint Task Force in the year 2022. Under the VJTF, thousands of soldiers would be put on standby and ready to be deployed within days.

NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu said, “Germany is an important Ally and we thank Germany for leading the VJTF in 2023.” Lungescu highlighted that “As Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to threaten peace and security in Europe, there must be no doubt about NATO’s resolve to protect and defend every inch of Allied territory.”

“The VJTF is NATO’s first responder and a key part of our collective defense. Germany’s leadership is a strong display of its commitment and capabilities,” Ms. Lungescu added.

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the NATO Alliance deployed troops and military equipment to Romania under the first-ever collective defense mission of the VJTF.

The VJTF is the highest-readiness element of NATO’s Response Force which was created in 2014 to strengthen NATO’s Response Force after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and crises in the Middle East.

The VJTF leadership and membership rotate annually among Allies. In 2023, VJTF land forces will comprise around 11,500 thousand troops, with the Panzergrenadier brigade 37 at its core, the NATO statement read.

german troops — *^{Armored vehicles are loaded onto a train in southern Germany on route to NATO exercises in Lithuania. (Image Credit: AFP)}*

According to the NATO statement, overall nine NATO allies including, Belgium, Czechia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, and Slovenia will contribute to the VJTF in 2023.

Germany’s Panzerbataillon 393, Artillerielehrbataillon 345, Versorgungsbataillon 131, and Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 are some of the major units of the VJTF. This is also the first time that Germany would lead both NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force and its designated Special Forces command.