NATO's Blunted 'Spearhead' (Neue Zuercher Zeitung, Switzerland)

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The shield at NATO headquarters in Brussels: its newly-formed

Spearhead looks far less sturdy, writes Eric Gujer of Switzerland's

Neue Zuercher Zeitung.

NATO's Blunted 'Spearhead' (Neue Zuercher Zeitung, Switzerland)

"At the moment, the newly-baptized 'Spearhead' relies on German and Dutch troops - which is where the political problem begins. Germany is an unreliable partner at times, as it demonstrated during air strikes on Libya in 2011. … As Germany rejects all military provocations toward Russia, it is not unlikely that at the last moment, it will suspend its participation in Spearhead. Moreover, the Bundestag must approve of every foreign mission, which could call into question Spearhead's planned two to five day operational readiness."

By Eric Gujer

Translated By Aleksandra Madejski

December 8, 2014

Switzerland - Neue Zuercher Zeitung - Original Article (German)

Life is a compromise; this is especially true for large organizations like NATO. The Alliance cannot agree on the deployment of troops to the Russian boarder to better protect its eastern members. The compromise between deterrence and the appeasement of Moscow lies in the rapid reaction force, which within days would be deployable to the east. This construct, however, doesn't add up, either politically or militarily.

At the moment, the newly-baptized “Spearhead” relies on German and Dutch troops - which is where the political problem begins. Germany is an unreliable partner at times, as it demonstrated during air strikes on Libya in 2011. Because Berlin had abstained when the U.N. Security Council voted on the operation, it withdrew its ships and troops from the NATO operation. It even considered releasing from duty German officers who participated in planning the operation at NATO headquarters.

As Germany rejects all military provocations toward Russia, it is not unlikely that at the last moment, it will suspend its participation in Spearhead. Moreover, the Bundestag must approve of every foreign mission, which could call into question Spearhead's planned two to five day operational readiness. The Bundeswehr doesn’t always form the backbone of this Alliance, but quite often is does simply because there are not many European countries with a sufficiently large force.

Posted by Worldmeets.US

Furthermore, NATO already has a rapid reaction force [third video down, right]. It hasn't been deployed because NATO members prefer to go to war with flexible coalitions in order to avoid problems like the forementioned with Germany. For this reason, establishing a second one of limited practicability hardly makes sense. In addition, greater funds must be expended to ensure the desired quick reaction time. Prudence dictates that it would be smarter to permanently station troops in the east. Such a reasonable solution, however, is rare in real life.

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