How quickly can NATO rearm and respond to a Russian attack

Introduction

NATO has significantly enhanced its readiness and response capabilities in recent years, particularly in light of Russia’s aggressive actions. The Alliance’s ability to quickly rearm and respond to a potential Russian attack can be assessed through several key aspects:

Rapid Response Forces

NATO has developed a tiered system of high-readiness forces:

The Allied Reaction Force, a new multinational and multi-domain force, is designed to respond swiftly to threats and crises

The New NATO Force Model (NFM) provides a larger pool of forces at graduated readiness levels, from 10 to 180 days

These forces are pre-assigned to specific regional defense plans, enhancing their ability to deploy quickly

Forward Presence and Reinforcement

NATO has strengthened its presence on its eastern flank:

Eight multinational battlegroups are now deployed from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea

Some battlegroups are being scaled up to brigade-size units, with Latvia already implementing this change

Pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles are being developed to support rapid reinforcement

Exercise and Readiness

NATO regularly conducts large-scale exercises to test and improve its rapid reinforcement capabilities:

Steadfast Defender 2024, NATO’s largest exercise since the Cold War, involved over 90,000 troops and demonstrated the Alliance’s ability to rapidly deploy forces across the Atlantic

Other exercises like Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exercise, Baltic Operations 2024, and Ramstein Legacy 24 further enhance NATO’s readiness

Command and Control

NATO has improved its command structure to facilitate rapid response:

New command arrangements, such as the fully operational Joint Force Command Norfolk, enhance NATO’s ability to coordinate forces quickly

Regional defense plans have been approved, improving the coherence of NATO’s collective defense planning with national planning

Defense Spending and Capabilities

Increased investment in defense is bolstering NATO’s overall capabilities:

In 2024, 23 out of 32 NATO members are expected to meet the 2% of GDP defense spending target

European Allies and Canada have increased their collective defense investment from 1.43% of GDP in 2014 to 2.02% in 2024

Conclusion

While these improvements significantly enhance NATO’s ability to respond quickly, it’s important to note that the Alliance’s primary goal is deterrence. The robust and visible presence of NATO forces, combined with the ability to rapidly reinforce, is designed to prevent conflicts from occurring in the first place.