Germany has taken over the leadership of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) for 2023. The country will replace France, which led the force in 2022 to guard against the potential spread of conflict after Russia invaded Ukraine.

“Germany is an important Ally and we thank Germany for leading the VJTF in 2023,” NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu stated. “As Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to threaten peace and security in Europe, there must be no doubt about NATO’s resolve to protect and defend every inch of Allied territory.

“The VJTF is NATO’s first responder and a key part of our collective defence. Germany’s leadership is a strong display of its commitment and capabilities.”The VJTF is considered the highest readiness military force in the northern alliance, with its leadership rotating annually among NATO members.

It was launched in 2014 in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and humanitarian crises in the Middle East. This year, task force land units will contain around 11,500 troops.

Germany’s Saxony-based mechanized infantry group, the 37th Panzergrenadier Brigade, will serve as the VTJF’s core. The Bundeswehr’s Artillerielehrbataillon 345 artillery combat support, Panzerbataillon 393 main battle tank battalion, Transporthubschrauberregiment 30 transport group, and Versorgungsbataillon 131 supply group will be deployed with the brigade.

Meanwhile, eight NATO allies have confirmed their participation in the task force, namely Lithuania, Belgium, Latvia, the Netherlands, Czechia, Slovenia, Luxembourg, and Norway.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg assured, however, that the lack of weapons of the German armed forces is not a problem for the VJTF. “The Bundeswehr has well-trained and equipped soldiers who can meet the demands very well. Furthermore, Germany will be the leading nation, but the VJTF does not consist exclusively of German forces,” he said, but at the same time welcomed the federal government’s decision to invest 100 billion euros in defence equipment.