Eurocorps takes command of NATO Response Force, with Poland leading VJTF

Eurocorps took over command of the NATO Response Force (NRF) Land for 2020 during a ceremony in Strasbourg, France, on 8 January, the multinational corps headquarters announced on its website.

NATO’s Allied Land Command Izmir commander, US Army Lieutenant General John Thomson (right), handing the NRF flag over to the Eurocorps commander, French Army Lieutenant General Laurent Kolodziej (left). (Eurocorps)

During the ceremony, NATO’s Allied Land Command Izmir commander, US Army Lieutenant General John Thomson, handed the NRF flag to the Eurocorps commander, French Army Lieutenant General Laurent Kolodziej.

Eurocorps took over command of NRF land forces from the German-Netherlands Corps, which led them in 2019.

NRF 2020’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) is led by Poland, which took over command from Germany. Poland is providing the core of VJTF 2020 with the its 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade, supported by units from the country’s 12th Mechanised Division, 3rd Transport Aviation Wing, military police, logisticians, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defence specialists, according to NATO and Poland's Ministry of National Defence (MND).

Poland is providing about 3,000 troops for the VJTF, with another 3,000 from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, NATO said on its website on 30 December, adding that the United States would provide air and combat support.

Under the overall command of NATO’s Joint Force Command in Brunssum, Netherlands, the UK is providing the air component command, Spain the maritime component command, and Poland the special forces command of the NRF in 2020, in addition to Eurocorps’ command of land forces.