战略与国际研究中心-The-European-Reassurance-Initiative_2页_407kb

NATO's Readiness Action Plan Summary

Core Content

The NATO Readiness Action Plan, approved at the 2014 Wales Summit, is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing the Alliance's ability to respond swiftly and firmly to new security challenges. It encompasses both short-term assurance measures and long-term adaptation measures, focusing on strengthening collective defense and crisis management capabilities across NATO's borders, particularly in response to threats from Russia and the southern neighbourhood (Middle East and North Africa).

Main Views

The plan is structured around two key components:

Assurance Measures

These are immediate actions to increase military presence and activity in Central and Eastern Europe, designed to reassure populations and deter potential aggression from Russia. They are flexible, allowing for adjustments based on the security situation.

• Military Activities: Include air-policing patrols over the Baltic States, deployment of fighter jets to Romania and Poland, and the rotation of air-policing duties among Allies.
• Training and Exercises: NATO has increased exercises focused on crisis management and collective defense, with over 100 such exercises in 2015.
• Multinational Presence: Several Allies have sent ground and air forces to Eastern Europe for bilateral training and exercises.
• Surveillance and Patrols: NATO AWACS flights and maritime patrol aircraft operations are conducted over eastern territories and along borders.
• Maritime Patrols: Intensified patrols in the Baltic, Black, and Mediterranean Seas using Standing NATO Maritime Groups and Mine Counter-Measures Groups.

Adaptation Measures

These are long-term changes to NATO's force structure and command capabilities, aimed at improving responsiveness and readiness to crises in both the east and the south.

• NATO Response Force (NRF): The NRF was expanded from 13,000 to 40,000 troops in 2015, including land, sea, air, and special forces.
• Spearhead Force (VJTF): A new, highly responsive force of 20,000 troops (5,000 ground) was established, capable of deployment within days. It was first tested in Exercise Noble Jump (2015) and later in Exercise Trident Juncture.
• Headquarters Rotation: Leadership and composition of the NRF and Spearhead Force will rotate annually, with Spain leading in 2016 and other nations offering to lead in subsequent years.
• NATO Force Integration Units (NFIUs): These small multinational units were activated in September 2015 in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, and two more will be set up in Hungary and Slovakia.
• Infrastructure Development: Efforts to improve national infrastructure (airfields, ports) to support rapid reinforcement of eastern Allies.
• Pre-positioning Supplies: Military supplies are being pre-positioned on the territory of eastern Allies.
• Joint Logistic Support Group: A new multinational logistics headquarters has been established to support deployed forces.

Key Information

• The plan was introduced in response to Russia's aggressive actions and security risks in the southern neighbourhood.
• All 28 Allies are involved in the assurance measures, which can be adjusted based on the security environment.
• The Spearhead Force is a critical part of the adaptation measures, enhancing NATO's ability to respond to crises quickly.
• NFIUs are being deployed in several Eastern European countries to improve coordination and support.
• The NRF and Spearhead Force are based in their home countries but can be deployed rapidly to any location.
• The plan ensures NATO remains strong, ready, robust, and responsive to both current and future security challenges.

Conclusion

The NATO Readiness Action Plan is a comprehensive strategy to ensure the Alliance's military readiness and responsiveness in the face of evolving security threats. By combining immediate reassurance efforts with long-term structural improvements, NATO aims to maintain its collective defense and crisis management capabilities, reinforcing its strategic deterrence and operational flexibility.