Britain Takes Command of NATO’s Rapid Response Force in 2024
The UK is gearing up to lead NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) from January 1, 2024. This move puts thousands of British troops on high alert, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. Marking NATO’s 75th year, the handover signals Britain’s serious commitment to global defence.
Desert Rats to Lead 6,000-Strong NATO Force
The VJTF was created after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and ramped up following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It’s NATO’s elite rapid-response unit within the broader NATO Response Force (NRF), which covers air, sea, and special operations.
For 2024, the VJTF will field about 6,000 troops, with the UK’s 7th Light Mechanized Brigade Combat Team – the fighting ‘Desert Rats’ – at the core.
Elite Brigade Packed with Firepower and Flexibility
The 7th Light Mechanized Brigade blends a light cavalry regiment with four light-mechanized infantry battalions, plus artillery, engineers, logistics, and medical support. Notable units include the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, 4th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, and 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment.
This brigade has proven itself before, notably leading NATO’s Strategic Reserve Force deployment in Kosovo.
UK Defence Secretary Vows Britain Will “Step Up”
“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,” said Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
Annual Leadership Role Hands Back to UK After Germany
The VJTF leadership switches yearly among NATO members. The UK takes over from Germany, which commanded the force in 2023, and previously led in 2017.
UK’s Broader NATO Commitments
- The 2023 Integrated Review Refresh confirmed NATO’s central role in UK defence strategy.
- The UK also leads NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia, holding a brigade high ready to protect the Baltics.
- Operation Cabrit sees around 1,000 UK troops stationed in Estonia, recently involved in the brigade-sized Exercise Spring Storm – a first for Op Cabrit.
- Britain supports a US-led battlegroup in Poland with a Reconnaissance Squadron and deploys the Sky Sabre Ground-Based Air Defence system to shield Polish airspace.
NATO’s New Allied Reaction Force Kicks Off
In 2024, nine NATO Allies – including the UK, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Latvia, North Macedonia, Albania, and one other – will contribute troops to the NATO Response Force. This elite unit will transform into the new Allied Reaction Force mid-year, continuing the alliance’s rapid reaction capabilities.
