UK Joint Expeditionary Force

The UK Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a United Kingdom-led expeditionary force which may consist of, as necessary, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. It is distinct from the similarly named Franco-British Combined Joint Expeditionary Force.

Joint Expeditionary Force

The JEF consists of personnel and equipment from all branches of the armed forces
Active2014–present
Countries
RoleExpeditionary
UK ComponentsRoyal Navy
Royal Marines
British Army
Royal Air Force
Map of the JEF member states

History

The creation of the JEF was announced in December 2012 by the then Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards.[1] The JEF arose from the JRRF which disappeared as a result of the UK's focus on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.[2]

The United Kingdom element of the JEF consists of personnel and equipment from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force and is designed to provide greater levels of integration than previously achieved especially when combined with other nations' armed forces.[1]

The multinational JEF was publicly launched as a NATO initiative at the September 2014 Wales Summit, subsumed under the new “Framework Nations Concept” rubric. Germany, the UK and Italy were to act as framework nations for groups of Allies coming together to work multinationally for the joint development of forces and capabilities required by NATO.[3]

In September 2014 the British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also announced the signature of a Letter of Intent between Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom, to establish the JEF so that it is fully operational before 2018.[4]

In early October 2015, Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said that he did not rule out Sweden joining the Joint Expeditionary Force, even though no formal process exists to do so at the moment, when he was summoned by the Riksdag to confirm if the government was engaged in formal talks to join the JEF without the knowledge of the parliament.[5] On 22 June 2017, the Swedish government confirmed that Sweden will be joining the Joint Expeditionary Force. One 28 June 2018, a comprehensive memorandum of understanding was signed amongst eight partner nations.[6]

Requirements

The aim of the JEF is to create a UK military framework, focused around its existing high readiness capabilities, that its partners can join up with. While it is the UK's intention to fully integrate the UK's JEF partners’ contributions before 2018, the JEF could deploy immediately if required.[4] It is designed with the following requirements in mind:

"a. act jointly and with allies, but able to act alone"
"b. be well equipped, but not tied to platforms"
"c. adapt as the environment changes" [1]

Capabilities

The JEF is intended as a pool of high readiness, adaptable forces that is designed to enhance the UK's ability to respond rapidly, anywhere in the world, with like-minded allies, or on behalf of international organisations such as the UN or NATO. The UK's contribution will include the lead commando, airborne, armoured, aviation, air and maritime task groups.

Speaking before the Royal United Services Institute, Sir David Richards outlined the specific applications that the capabilities of the Joint Expeditionary Force will allow:

"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."[1]

"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."[1]

JEF Activity in 2019:

In 2019 a series of maritime exercises are occurring amongst JEF nations, known as BALTIC PROTECTOR.

JEF Defence Ministers kicked off the deployment when they came together in London on 3 April to rehearse the political decision-making process that would be needed to launch a JEF operation.

The first military phase of BALTIC PROTECTOR is DANEX, which is taking place 24 May to 4 June off Denmark. Here they will practise the skills that are the basic building blocks of high intensity modern maritime warfare and includes both land and sea training.

A vital part of interoperability is confidence in each other's techniques and tactics and so Danish, Dutch, Norwegian and UK forces will participate and work together during this deployment. In addition to maritime operations, Marines and soldiers from across the exercising nations will be undertaking Urban Ops, live firing and parachuting.

While JEF is willing and able to act without other nations, they prepare to work alongside NATO, EU, UN and other allies. They will also join the US 2nd Fleet on their annual BALTOPS exercise, which forms Phase 2 of BALTIC PROTECTOR. From 9-23 Jun, JEF forces will be in the seas off Germany and Sweden where they will conduct a sea war exercise, including Mine Countermeasure ops, naval gunfire, a beach recce and close air support. On conclusion of the BALTOPS phase, many participating ships will sail to Kiel, Germany, to take part in the Kielerwochen Festival (Kiel Week).

In the final phase, between 26 Jun and 8 Jul, they will focus on Amphibious operations, working together on several beach landings around the Baltic States. This is a challenging and exhilarating finale to the season of working together and provides the opportunity to learn lessons.

To coincide with the final phase, Defence Ministers and Chiefs of Defence will come together to mark the achievements in the year since JEF was declared operational and set the ambition for the next four years.

International partners

Together with the British Armed Forces, the following eight nations may form part of the JEF as required.[4]

See also

References
  1. Speech Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), 17 December 2012
  2. Saxi, Håkon Lunde (23 May 2018). "The UK Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)" (PDF). brage.bibsys. Norway: brage.bibsys. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  3. Saxi, Håkon Lunde: British and German initiatives for defence cooperation: the Joint Expeditionary Force and the Framework Nations Concept, Defence Studies, 2017
  4. International partners sign Joint Expeditionary Force agreement
  5. O'Dwyer, Gerard (4 October 2015). "Sweden Considers Joining UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force". DefenseNews. Helsinki: Tenga. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  6. "Over 10,000 troops from nine nations ready to meet global challenges". gov.uk. London: Tenga. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
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