About 200 personnel from NATO’s newly established Allied Reaction Force (ARF) will be deployed to the Western Balkans for an operational readiness exercise in support of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission.
The exercise takes place from 30 September to 16 October. KFOR stated that the Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFCNP) was closely monitoring the situation in the Western Balkans. Continued tensions and uncoordinated actions in that strategically important region raise concerns among NATO allies and partners about security in Kosovo and overall stability.
The ARF is a high-readiness strategic force capable of conducting multidimensional operations. They are deployable at short notice to enhance deterrence in a variety of scenarios.
This is the first deployment of any ARF element since its formation in July 2024. The mission includes a military contingent of about 50 personnel from the Operational Liaison and Reconnaissance Team (OLRT) in Kosovo, as well as a forward command node of about 150 troops in northern Macedonia, according to KFOR.
Part of the ARF headquarters will temporarily become part of the KFOR command and control structure tasked with identifying logistical, infrastructure and operational support requirements.
The JFCNP supports KFOR in fulfilling its mandate, based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, to provide a safe and secure environment for all communities in Kosovo and to protect freedom of movement.
