At a recent conference, held at NRDC-ITA headquarters, the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) leadership met to outline strategies for the upcoming operational date of the new force. The ARF Component Commanders' Conference saw the active participation of all the commanders of the tactical-level units, which will constitute the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) as of 1 July.
Under the leadership of the NRDC-ITA Commander, Parachute Lieutenant General Lorenzo D'Addario, the meeting outlined the future strategic directions and consolidated the foundations of a force that will be characterised by a marked multi-domain as well as multinational connotation. The presence of the various NATO representatives allowed for discussions focused on the planned activities and the state of readiness of the units, with a focus on the upcoming NRDC-ITA exercises as ARF headquarters.
The formation of this reaction force highlights the Alliance's ability to respond promptly to emerging threats and crises while also underlining its commitment to operations that transcend national borders and traditional domains of intervention. The ARF thus represents a step forward in the evolution of NATO's defence strategies, promising to offer new tactical and operational options.
2024 will be a year of significant challenges for NRDC-ITA, which will engage in a series of military exercises, academic studies and staff training programmes. These activities will culminate with the Steadfast Deterrence exercise scheduled for May, aimed at testing the ARF's resilience and operational readiness.
The central role assumed by NRDC-ITA within the ARF strengthens existing relationships within the NATO structure while also opening the door to new collaborations by sharing expertise and experience with new partners and allies.
NRDC-ITA is a testament to Italy's commitment to the Atlantic Alliance, emphasising its key role in the defence and deterrence of the Euro-Atlantic area, projecting NRDC-ITA at the centre of a global commitment to international security and stability.
What is ARF, Allied Reaction Force
Operational as of 1 July 2024, the Allied Reaction Force will be a new multinational, multi-domain NATO force that will provide additional options for rapidly responding to threats and crises in all directions in Alliance territory.
The establishment of the ARF was announced during the NATO Vilnius Summit in July 2023. The NRDC-ITA will provide the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR) with an immediate crisis response capability, while providing an opportunity for the development of permanent ARF structures.
In September 2023 NRDC-ITA was chosen as the provisional headquarters for the new Force of the Atlantic Alliance.
