Solbiate Olona, 1 July 2025 – The official hand over of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) Components Command took place today at the Headquarters of NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy (NRDC-ITA), in the presence of the ARF Commander, Lieutenant General Lorenzo D’Addario, and representatives from various NATO Commands.
The event, marking exactly one year since NRDC-ITA assumed command of the ARF, represents a significant operational and symbolic milestone, officially transferring responsibilities among Allied units across key military domains like land and maritime.
Effective today, with the exception of the Joint Logistic Support Group (JLSG of NRDC-ITA) and the Spanish Special Forces, which will remain part of the rotation in 2025, the ARF composition includes:
- Land Component Command: from the UK’s 1st Division to the Italian Multinational Division South (ITA MND-S);
- Maritime Component Command: from ITA MARFOR to ESPMARFOR (Spain);
while in the Air Component Command there is the handover/takeover from ESP JFAC to TUR JFAC (Turkiye).
In his speech, General D’Addario emphasized that this rotation marks a critical step in reinforcing the Alliance’s readiness and demonstrating its collective ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging challenges, within a multidomain and multinational framework.
The event follows the ARF Component Commanders’ Conference held last June, which brought together the leadership of various Commands to assess the state of force readiness. Upcoming training activities include Exercise Steadfast Dagger 2025, scheduled in Norway between November and December, and Steadfast Dart 2026 during the early months of the new year.
The ARF, established following the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, is a high-readiness, joint command force operating under the direct authority of the SACEUR. Its mission is to ensure a rapid and effective response to global crises across all operational domains. The ARF Command, entrusted to NRDC-ITA, embodies the new NATO Force Model and contributes directly to the deterrence and defense of the Euro-Atlantic area.
As of today, the land component of the ARF is under the command of the Multinational Division South, the former “Vittorio Veneto” Division, a major unit of the Italian Army headquartered in Florence. Established in 2019, the Division is capable of planning and conducting multinational and joint operations, ensuring high flexibility and interoperability.
Within the ARF context, it will coordinate the deployment of land forces provided by Allied nations. Among these is the Alpine Brigade “Julia”, a unit of the Italian Army specialized in mountain warfare and already integrated within NATO’s rapid response forces.
This assignment further strengthens Italy’s role within the Alliance, highlighting the capabilities and expertise of its land forces.