Eine neue NATO-Eingreiftruppe, unter britischer Führung?

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Einige NATO-Länder planen , so heißt es, eine neue schnelle Eingreiftruppe des Bündnisses in Divisionsstärke unter britischer Führung. Einen Bericht dazu gibt es bislang ausschließlich bei der Financial Times (hinter Paywall), die Kernaussage:

Britain and six other states are to create a new joint expeditionary force of at least 10,000 personnel to bolster Nato’s power in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. (…)  The aim is to create a fully functioning, division-sized force for rapid deployment and regular, frequent exercises.  (…) The force will incorporate air and naval units as well as ground troops and will be led by British commanders, with other participating nations contributing a range of specialist troops and units.

Merkwürdig daran: damit würde die NATO Response Force der Allianz dupliziert (wenn auch bei der neuen Eingreiftruppe offensichtlich nicht von einer Rotation die Rede ist). Die Aufgabe der bereits bestehenden Feuerwehr des Bündnisses, die zudem ein bisschen größer und umfassender ist:

The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly, wherever needed. (…)
The NRF is comprised of three parts: a command and control element from the NATO Command Structure; the Immediate Response Force, a joint force of around 13,000 high-readiness troops provided by Allies; and a Response Forces Pool, which can supplement the Immediate Response Force when necessary.

Merkwürdig ist auch, dass aus den anderen angeblich beteiligten Nationen – die Rede ist von Dänemark, Estland, Litauen, Norwegen und den Niederlanden, bei möglichem Interesse Kanadas – davon bislang nichts zu hören ist. Vielleicht klärt sich das ja in den nächsten Tagen oder spätestens auf dem NATO-Gipfel kommende Woche in Wales.

Nachtrag: Ein bisschen mehr dazu findet sich in einem Schreiben des niederländischen Außenministeriums an das Parlament (Kamerstuk, danke an den niederländischen Kollegen Hans de Vreij für den Hinweis) zum bevorstehenden Gipfel. Danach geht es wohl eher um die auch vom scheidenden NATO-Generalsekretär Anders Fogh Rasmussen bereits erwähnte Ergänzung der NRF. Die Google-Übersetzung (ins Englische, weil die besser funktioniert als ins Deutsche):

In Wales will discuss the Readiness Action Plan (RAP) to which NATO has been working in recent months. The RAP bundles the necessary measures in response to the changing security situation in and around Europe.
The RAP fills the previously affected reassurance measures, but is more than just a response to the actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. The RAP provides inter alia for the establishment of a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in the NRF, parts of which have been in response to threats to the eastern flank, and, eventually, elsewhere within and outside NATO deployable within days -verdragsgebied. To ensure this rapid deployment is still under construction (further) agreements on Host Nation Support, facilities for command and control and logistical support. In addition, there are more exercises in the eastern States and is working to improve the intelligence position and strategic awareness.
Netherlands is in favor of increasing the readiness and responsiveness of the NRF and setting a VJTF. The government has drawn attention to aspects such as political decision-making about the use and distribution of the costs resulting from the higher readiness, training and exercises, and the deployment of the VJTF. It is also important that on rotation basis, as much as possible to make contributions to this countries. As is known, Netherlands in 2015 will make a significant contribution to the NRF. The Minister of Defence is currently examining the extent to which a portion of the previous earmarked Dutch units can be made in the event in Newport agreement on a VJTF. Deployed sooner About the possibilities and the financial consequences You will be informed in due course.

Nachtrag 2: Ein kundiger Leser wies mich auf eine Rede hin, die General Sir David Richards, Chief of the Defence Staff der Briten, bereits im Dezember 2012 hielt. Darin geht es um das britische Konzept einer Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), die ziemlich nach dem klingt, worüber die FT berichtet:

The new UK Joint Expeditionary Force is an expression of this. The JEF promises much greater levels of integration than previously achieved especially when combined with others, as is already happening with our French allies in the Anglo/French Combined JEF. The JEF must be genuinely synergistic. It is the building block to future alliances and independent action. And we would hope that allies such as Denmark and Estonia, who have fought with distinction in a British formation in Afghanistan, will want to play key roles within the British element of the CJEF.
What it offers is clear: an integrated joint force with capabilities across the spectrum at sea, on land and in the air. A force that can confidently be allocated a specific slice of the battle space in an allied operation or act alone. It will be the basis of all our combined joint training.
With the capability to ‘punch’ hard and not be a logistical or tactical drag on a coalition, we will be especially welcomed by our friends and feared by our enemies.
The JEF will be of variable size; a framework into which others fit. It will be the core of the UK’s contribution to any military action, whether NATO, coalition or independent.
Together with critical C2 elements such as HQ ARRC and the emphasis placed on the maritime component HQ at Northwood, the JEF is designed to meet our NATO obligations.
In the Libyan campaign, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were able to play a vital role by bringing their regional expertise into the command structure of a NATO operation. This provided greater military and political reach. I look forward to the alliance, perhaps in part through the vehicle of the JEF, working more with non-member states.
Britain’s JEF will be capable of projecting power with global effect and influence. Nowhere is more important to us than our friends in the Middle East and Gulf and in line with clear political intent we would expect, with other initiatives, for JEF elements to spend more time reassuring and deterring in that region.

(Foto: Challenger2-Panzer der britischen Armee beim scharfen Schuss – Cpl Si Longworth RLC/Crown Copyright 2014/Open Government License)