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Tartu (EST) 11 June 2026. Today, the ARF Commander addressed officers and civil servants attending the Higher Command Studies Course 2026 of the Baltic Defence College in Estonia, delivering a lecture on the role, mission, and capabilities of the Allied Reaction Force as NATO’s rapidly deployable force.
The presentation focused on rapid crisis response, continuous operational planning, understanding the operating environment in potential areas of employment, hybrid threats, lessons identified from recent conflicts, and the evolving challenges of drone warfare.
Special emphasis was placed on the ARF’s role as a strategic tool of SHAPE, operating within a multi-JOA framework and in close coordination with JFC Naples, JFC Norfolk, and JFC Brunssum. The discussion also highlighted the Force’s contribution to NATO’s Eastern Flank deterrence efforts, while driving innovation, readiness, and interoperability across the Alliance.