"Spearhead Force" command to contribute to Poland's security - MoD
Poland on January 1 took command over NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), known as the "Spearhead Force," which is ready to deploy and respond, within a few days, to any challenges that may arise.
Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak speaking in Rzeszow, south-eastern Poland, on Thursday said that the taking over of the command is proof of Poland's credibility in NATO and will contribute to its security.
"This without doubt is an expression of our allies' confidence in the Polish Armed Forces and proof of the high efficiency of Polish soldiers," said Blaszczak.
The minister, addressing a briefing of officers of the 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade, which has taken over the command, said that Poland's high position in NATO is, among other things, a result of the fact that Poland spends 2 percent of the GDP on defence. "This is also a consequence of the introduction of modernisation programmes in the Polish Armed Forces."
The minister also said that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently thanked Poland for its commitment to the allied defence. Expressing his thanks, the NATO head said that the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force is a significant contribution to the common defence and a strong representation of Poland's abilities.
Stoltenberg also thanked Poland for assuming the lead of the VJTF in 2020. Fulfilling this task, the 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade is supported by units from the 12th Mechanised Division and the 3rd Transport Aviation Wing, Military Police as well as experts.
The Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) was established as a response to the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since the moment of its formation, they have been an element of Russia's deterrence strategy.
In 2015, NATO defence ministers decided that the VJTF would consist of a land component of around 5,000 troops with appropriate air, naval and special forces units available. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom agreed to take command of the VJTF on a rotational basis in the coming years.
VJTF comprises air, naval and special troops and is part of 40,000 NRF personnel. Every year the leading VJTF brigade comes from a different country. It was Italy in 2018 and Germany in 2019. (PAP)
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