The UK has announced it will make the largest contribution of personnel and equipment, leading allies for Exercise Steadfast Dart 25 in Romania and Bulgaria.
During the following two-months, London will deploy over 2,600 personnel and 730 vehicles to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank.
“These exercises will showcase the Alliance’s readiness, capability, and commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory,” the UK government stated.
The UK Armed Forces will command land forces from 10 NATO members, leading the deployment of the new Allied Reaction Force.
The initiative aims to enhance coordination and cooperation among allies while bolstering readiness to address emerging threats, including those posed by Russia, the UK government emphasized in a press release.
“As we approach the three-year anniversary of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we must continue to strengthen our collective defenses together to deter Putin effectively,” stated UK Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard.
Allied Reaction Force
Amid increasing security threats in Europe, the Allies are boosting their efforts to deter and defend the Euro-Atlantic area.
In July last year, NATO announced its entry into service with the newly-established Allied Reaction Force (ARF) in Solbiate Olona, northern Italy.
The ARF can perform a wide range of missions, acting as a rapidly deployable strategic reserve in times of crisis.
It can be deployed to deter escalation and other emerging situations.
“The ARF can deliver forces, fires and effects within 10 days to either strengthen deterrence or provide a strategic dilemma to adversaries,” a NATO statement said.
