NATO Enhanced Forward Presence

Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) is a NATO-allied forward deployed defense and deterrence military posture in Central Europe through Poland and Northern Europe through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, in order to protect and reassure NATO's Central and Northern European member states on NATO's eastern flank of their security. Following Russia's invasion of Crimea and its War in Donbass, NATO's member states agreed at the 2016 Warsaw summit to forward deploy four multinational battalion battle groups to those NATO member states perceived to be most at risk of a possible Russian attack or invasion.

Overview

The four multinational battalion battle groups are based in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, and led by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the United States:[1]

CountryLocationLead nationCurrent participants
EstoniaTapaUnited KingdomDenmark, Iceland
LatviaĀdažiCanadaAlbania, Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
LithuaniaRuklaGermanyBelgium, Czech Republic, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway
PolandOrzyszUnited StatesCroatia, Romania, United Kingdom

The troops serving in the multinational battalion battle groups will rotate every six months and train and operate with their host nations' militaries.

Estonian multinational battalion battle group

Belgium

The Belgian Army contributes a 269-soldier strong Belgian Land Component armoured infantry company from the Chasseurs Ardennais with support elements and HQ staff officers.[2]

Denmark & Iceland

Additionally the Danish Army will deploy a mechanized force by 2018 at the latest.[3] Three brigade HQ support personnel from the Royal Danish Army and 1 strategic communications civilian from the Icelandic defence forces have also been stationed in Estonia.[4]

France

The British unit will be supported by a mixed battle group from the French Army's 9th Light Armoured Marine Brigade consisting of an mechanized infantry company from the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment equipped with VBCI infantry fighting vehicles, artillery from the 11th Marine Artillery Regiment equipped with CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, and combat engineers from the 6th Engineer Regiment, with a company of Leclerc main battle tanks from the 7th Armoured Brigade's 1st Chasseurs Regiment attached for the deployment.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom will deploy 800 personnel from the British Army's 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade:

The British Army's 5th Battalion, The Rifles battlegroup, will rotate back to the United Kingdom in November 2017 and be replaced by a battlegroup formed around the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh.[7]

Structure of Latvian eFP Battle Group

Latvian multinational battalion battle group
Italian Army 1st Bersaglieri Regiment VTLM Lince being refueled by Canadian Army and Slovenian Army troops
Italian Army 4th Tank Regiment Ariete main battle tank and a Canadian Army and LAV 6.0 on patrol

Albania

Albania will send a small detachment of 21 EOD engineers from the Albanian Land Force.

Canada

Canada provides the core of the NATO battle group in Latvia with approximately 450 mechanized infantry and supporting troops. This contingent is provided by Canada's high readiness brigade, a task which rotates annually amongst the three Regular Force brigades of the country. Reservists from more than 100 units across Canada have provided several augmentees to each rotation.

2017

In 2017, the contingent was provided by the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Western Canada, which handed over to the 2nd Mechanized Brigade Group in Eastern Canada in 2018. The 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based in CFB Gagetown, rotated in to relieve the 1st Battalion, PPCLI.[8]

2018

In June 2018, the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, was replaced by the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, based out of Petawawa, Ontario.

2019

In January 2019, Canada's French-speaking mechanized brigade from Quebec, (the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group), took on the task. The commanding officer, LCol Sauvé, and most of the soldiers were from the 2nd battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment (2R22eR) or the armoured 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada (12e RBC).[9] In accordance with this rotation cycle, they were replaced in July 2019 by the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry from the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.

2020

In January 2020, a battle group led by the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), of the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, rotated in to Latvia, and was replaced by a battle group led by the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.

2021

In January 2021, a battle group led by the Royal Canadian Dragoons, of the 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, relieved the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic provides a mortar platoon of 55 soldiers.[10]

Italy

Italy will provide an Italian Army mechanized Infantry company with Freccia and Dardo infantry fighting vehicles. Recently the Italian Army has reinforced its presence with 8 Ariete main battle tanks.

Montenegro

Montenegro provides a reconnaissance squad.[4]

Poland

Poland an armored company with PT-91 Twardy main battle tanks.

Slovenia

Slovenia will deploy a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defense platoon of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

Slovakia

Slovakia will deploy an armored infantry company consisting of 150 troops from 11th Mechanized Battalion starting in second half of 2018. The Slovak force contribution consists of:

  • a Mechanised Company on BMP2,
  • Command and Control Element,
  • Military Police team,
  • Repairs and Operation Platoon as a support element
  • and a team of medics.

Spain

Spain will dispatch a reinforced armored infantry company consisting of around 350 troops from the 11th Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Extremadura". The Spanish contingent will include 6 Leopard 2E main battle tanks from the I/16th Tank Battalion "Mérida" of the 16th Armored Regiment "Castilla" and 15 Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles from the I/6th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Cantabria" of the 6th Infantry Regiment "Saboya".[11]

Lithuanian multinational battalion battle group

The Lithuania multinational battalion battle group will be assigned to the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Army and based in Rukla.

In December 2017, the German-led battalion included:[12]

  • over 450 troops from Germany,
  • 100 from Belgium,
  • 20 from Luxembourg,
  • 200 from Norway
  • and over 200 from the Netherlands.

At the beginning of 2018, a French contingent was expected to be added to the group.

2017

The Belgian Army sent a logistic support company, which arrived in Lithuania on 24 January 2017. The 100 men from the 18th Logistics Battalion and 29th Logistics Battalion of the Belgian Land Component with medical and military police units attached arrived by ferry in Klaipėda and contain a small detachment of troops from the Luxembourg Army,[13] which brought with them around ten transport trucks with them.[14]

2018

In 2018, there was a motorised infantry company of 1/3rd Lancers Battalion.[15]

Croatia

Croatia is providing a 180-men mechanised infantry company from the 1st Mechanized Battalion "Tigers" of Mechanized Guard Brigade of the Croatian Army equipped with Patria AMV APCs, as well as logistics personnel.[12]

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic had provided a mechanized company of 230 soldiers.[10] In July 2019, it was replaced by Electronic Warfare Task Force.[16]

France

Some 200 soldiers from 5th Dragoon Regiment of the French Army have arrived to Rukla on 3 July 2020, staying there for 6 months until the end of December, with a hundred more administration and logistics personnel. The troops form a mechanised infantry company and are reinforced with 5 Leclerc tanks and 14 VBCI IFVs.[17]

Germany

The first German Army unit to deploy to Lithuania is the 122nd Mechanized Battalion of the 12th Armoured Brigade of the 10th Panzer Division. Equipped with Marder infantry fighting vehicles the battalion will be augmented with Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks from the 104th Tank Battalion, PzH 2000 self-propelled artillery from the 131st Artillery Battalion engineers from the 4th Armored Engineer Battalion and troops from the 4th Supply Battalion.

Iceland

Since March 2018, Iceland deploys one civilian expert to the battlegroup.

Netherlands

Additionally, the Royal Netherlands Army deploys an infantry company supported by engineers, logistics and medical personnel.

Norway

The Norwegian Army deploys a mixed armoured company from the Telemark Battalion equipped with CV9030 infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2A4NO main battle tanks.

Battle Group Poland

The Poland-based multinational battalion Battle Group, known as Battle Group Poland (BGPOL),[18] is currently led by the United States Army's 2nd ("Cougars") Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment (United States) headquartered in Rose Barracks, Germany. The Battle Group consists of a US combined-arms battalion, a Sabre Squadron from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, a Croatian rocket artillery battery, and an ADA company from the Romanian Army.

The Battle Group is attached to the Polish Army's 15th Mechanized Brigade and based in Orzysz located south of Kaliningrad Oblast and 120 kilometers away from the Suwalki Gap.

References
  1. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_136388.htm NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Website
  2. "Belgian troops joined the NATO enhanced forward presence battle group at Tapa - Kaitsevägi". www.mil.ee. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  3. "British troops to defend Baltics against Russia in new Nato mission". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  4. "NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence" (PDF). nato.int. 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  5. Soldier Magazine. Aldershot Garrison, Hampshire, England: Ministry of Defence. August 2016. p. 14.
  6. "Survival Kit and Outdoor Military Equipment - Survival Aids". www.survivalaids.com.
  7. "Royal Welsh Regiment to be base unit of British contingent in Estonia from November". Latvian Information Agency. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  8. Defence, National (13 January 2018). "Canadian Armed Forces Members deploy to continue deterrence mission in Latvia". gcnws.
  9. "http://www.45enord.ca/2019/01/premier-depart-troupes-valcartier-deployees-lettonie/". External link in |title= (help) Date 3 jan 2019
  10. "České jednotky zamíří do Pobaltí. S minomety a obrněnci Pandur". iDNES.cz (in Czech). 11 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  11. "España desplegará por primera vez los tanques Leopard en una misión exterior". ABC España. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  12. "Croatian troops join international NATO battalion in Lithuania". Delfi. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  13. https://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/start/aktuelles/aus_der_truppe/!ut/p/z1/ German Army eFP site (and) http://kam.lt/en/news_1098/current_issues/first_troops_of_the_nato_enhanced_forward_presence_battalion_come_to_lithuania_from_belgium.html?pbck=0 Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine Lithuaian Army Press Release
  14. "Luxembourg's troops join NATO battalion in Lithuania". Delfi. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  15. "Vytis decorating the Belgian Armed Forces convoy". Lithuanian Armed Forces. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  16. "Lotyšsko a Litva". www.mise.army.cz. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  17. Beniušis, Vaidotas. "Gynybos atašė: prancūzų karių kuopa Lietuvoje pilnai sukomplektuota". LRT (in Lithuanian).
  18. Dorschner, James (September 21, 2017). "Ramping up: U.S. Army Europe building forces and capability". Jane's Defence Weekly.
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