Deputy Commander Estonian Defence Forces, Brigadier General Artur Tiganik today met with the Commander NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, General Hans-Lothar Domröse, who will be in charge of NATO Response Force next year.
According to Tiganik, the NATO Response Force exercise Trident Juncture, held in southern Europe in autumn will allow to test the NATO´s military capabilities, which considering the current security environment in Europe is important for Estonia as well as to the whole Alliance. „As part of the Baltic Battalion (BALTBAT), Estonia´s Scouts Battalion must accomplish joint tasks with the Spanish Infantry Brigade and be ready to participate in military operations NATO deems necessary,” Tiganik said.
Commander of NATO Allied Joint Command Brunssum, General Hans-Lothar Domröse was in Estonia for a one day visit and also met with the Command of the United States Army unit serving in Estonia. NATO Response Force, which Domröse is due to command in 2016, is being enhanced by a high-readiness Spearhead Force; a capable and interoperable land brigade of around 5,000 personnel, capable of deploying within one week, partly within 48 hours.
„Supported by air, sea and Special Forces, the Spearhead Force will, in case of a major crisis, be supported by two further brigades, as a rapid reinforcement capability; bringing almost the total NRF capability to some 30,000 personnel,“ Domröse said.
Spain, Portugal and Italy will be hosting the exercise Trident Juncture this autumn which will be the largest NATO exercise in past years, where 25,000 military personnel from 30 nations is expected to participate. Estonia will be taking part in the NATO Response Force with a joint battalion with Latvia and Lithuania of which the Scouts Battalion is forming the core element.
NATO JFC Brunssum, in the Netherlands, is one of two NATO joint force headquarters, the other being JFC Naples. The command is responsible for the long term planning of Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. Operational command of NATO Response Force alternates between the joint force commands in Brunssum and Naples. In 2016 Brunssum is in command for NRF.