The United Kingdom is set to take the helm of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) on January 1, 2024, a role that will place thousands of British soldiers on standby, ready for rapid deployment within days. This leadership transition underscores the UK’s commitment to global defence and NATO, as the alliance enters its 75th year.
The VJTF, established in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and subsequently deployed for the collective defence of NATO following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, is the highest-readiness element within NATO’s broader Response Force (NRF). The NRF encompasses air, maritime, and special operations forces. In 2024, the VJTF’s land forces will comprise approximately 6,000 troops, with the UK’s 7th Light Mechanized Brigade Combat Team, known as the ‘Desert Rats,’ at its core.
The 7th Light Mechanized Brigade is a versatile force consisting of a light cavalry regiment and four light-mechanized infantry battalions, complemented by enabling artillery, engineering, logistics, and medical regiments. Key units within the brigade include the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the 4th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment. This brigade previously led the response during the activation of NATO’s Strategic Reserve Force in Kosovo.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps emphasized the UK’s commitment to NATO and global defence, stating, “The UK is at the heart of NATO. By heading up NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force in 2024, we are taking another leading position in the Alliance, sending a clear message that Britain is stepping up to our global defence commitments.”
The VJTF leadership role is rotated annually among NATO member nations. The United Kingdom will succeed Germany, which led the force in 2023. Notably, the UK previously led the task force in 2017.
The MOD’s 2023 Integrated Review Refresh affirmed NATO’s centrality to UK defence and security. The UK remains committed to providing a comprehensive range of defence capabilities to NATO, including the existing UK leadership of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) mission in Estonia, where a brigade of troops is held at high readiness to reinforce Estonia and the wider Baltic region in times of crisis.
Additionally, the UK continues to deploy around 1,000 troops persistently as part of Operation Cabrit, participating in Exercise Spring Storm in Estonia, marking the first time the UK conducted a brigade-sized deployment as part of Op Cabrit.
The UK further contributes to NATO through the provision of a Reconnaissance Squadron to a US-led NATO battlegroup in Poland and the deployment of a Ground-Based Air Defense system (Sky Sabre) to protect Polish airspace.
In 2024, nine NATO Allies, including the UK, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Latvia, North Macedonia, Romania, and Albania, will contribute to the NATO Response Force, which will transition into the new Allied Reaction Force in mid-2024.
