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.
