NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP)
NATO has enhanced its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, with four multinational battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. These battle groups, led by the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and the United States respectively, are multinational, and combat-ready, demonstrating the strength of the transatlantic bon
Their presence makes clear that an attack on one Ally will be considered an attack on the whole Alliance. NATO’s battle groups form part of the biggest reinforcement of NATO’s collective defence in a generation.
Allies agreed at the Wales Summit in 2014 to implement the Readiness Action Plan (RAP) in order to respond swiftly to the fundamental changes in the security environment on NATO's borders and further afield.
Building on the RAP, Allies took further decisions at the Warsaw Summit in 2016 to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture and to contribute to projecting stability and strengthening security outside of Alliance territory.
Together, these decisions are the biggest reinforcement of Alliance collective defence in a generation. Combined with the forces and capabilities required for rapid reinforcement by follow-on forces, these measures will enhance the security of all Allies and ensure protection of Alliance territory, populations, airspace and sea lines of communication, including across the Atlantic, against threats from wherever they arise.
At their meeting on Oct. 26, 2016, Allied defence ministers confirmed troop contributions to the four battalion-size battle groups: Albania, Italy, Poland and Slovenia will contribute to the Canadian-led battle group in Latvia; Belgium, Croatia, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway will join the German-led battle group in Lithuania; Denmark and France will contribute to the UK-led battle group in Estonia, and Romania and the United Kingdom will join the US-led battle group in Poland. Later on, Spain confirmed its contribution to the battle group in Latvia. Contributions will be made on a voluntary, sustainable and rotational basis.
Ministers also decided a number of tailored measures to increase NATO presence in the southeast of the Alliance on land, at sea and in the air with more multinational land training, combined joint enhanced training, more maritime activity and increased coordination.
Fully deployed in June 2017, NATO’s enhanced forward presence comprises multinational forces provided by framework nations and other contributing Allies on a voluntary, fully sustainable and rotational basis. They are based on four rotational battalion-size battle groups that operate in concert with national home defence forces and are present at all times in the host countries.
Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States are the framework nations for the robust multinational presence in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland respectively.
The eFP mission aims to maintain deterrence against any aggression against our Baltic Allies through a defensive deployment and is in line with the Alliance's commitment to assist Allied countries.
The NATO Battle Group in the eFP mission deployed in Latvia ensures a credible and effective deterrent against any threat to our Baltic Ally, being ready to act in Latvia's defence if necessary, and demonstrating the strong commitment to the Alliance of the countries that make up the Alliance and its multinational character.
The Spanish contribution to NATO´s Battle Group in Latvia is visible in the troops that make up a Mechanised Tactical Subgroup, a Sappers Unit, different posts within the Battle Group´s Headquarter Command and the Latvian Brigade, as well as a national support element, which includes the Logistical Unit. Spain has roughly 350 troops deployed in Latvia.
The main resources provided by Spain are the “Leopardo 2E” battle tanks and the “Pizzaro” infantry fighting vehicles (IFV). This is the first time that our country has deployed this type of resource in a foreign mission.
Moreover, other mechanized resources are also provided, such as the M-113 armoured personnel carrier, heavy mortars, engineering vehicle (VCZ) and the anti-tank guided missile Spike. It must also be pointed out the contribution of units that substantially improve fighting capacity of the Tactical Subgroup, such as the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTCA) and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), named “Raven”.
2021
- January 14. The seventh rotation made up from Brigade ‘Aragón’ I (eFP VIII) begins its tour of duty. The head of the Spanish contingent is LtCol. Luis María Galvache Rodríguez.
2020
- July 14. Sixth handover/takeover (HOTO) in Adazi. 12th Brigade ‘Guadarrama’ (eFP VII) starts its mission.
- January 16: Fifth HOTO of the Spanish contingent takes place. 10th Brigade ‘Guzman el Bueno’ starts its mission. The commander is Lieutenant Colonel Emilio Hermoso Orzáez.
2019
- July 12. Fourth HOTO of the Spanish contingent is conducted. It is the second time that the 11th Brigade ‘Extremadura’ is deployed in Latvia. Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Ávila Muñoz is the commander of the deployment.
- January 15.Third relief of Spanish contingent takes place. Lieutenant Coronel Luis Manuel Benéitez Martínez commands eFP IV, composed of personnel from the I Brigade “Aragón” and from the 41st Logistic Support Group (AALOG in Spanish).
2018
- August 20. The Battle Group takes part in the 18th Latvian Armed Forces military exercise NAMEJS.
- July 18. Second HOTO between Spanish contingents takes place. eFP III is composed of personnel from the 12th Brigade ‘Guadarrama’, from the 21st Logistic Support Group (AALOG in Spanish), from the Field Artillery Command and from the 21st Signals Regiment.
- January 15. First HOTO between Spanish contingents is performed. eFP II is composed of personnel from the 10th Brigade ‘Guzman el Bueno’ and from the 41st Logistic Support Group (AALOG in Spanish).
2017
- November 19. The Spanish contingent deployed at Adazi participates in the parade that commemorates the Latvian National Holiday.
- June 19: a ceremony establishing the Battle Group in Latvia is held.
2016
- July 9. During the Warsaw Summit, countries of the Alliance agree to establish Enhanced Forward Presence of defensive and dissuasive nature and with a multinational character, in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
2004
- March 29. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania join the Atlantic Alliance.
EMAD PRESS RELEASES ON NATO'S EFP
-
Spanish military from the 'Aragón' Brigade takes over within NATO's mission in Latvia
Spanish military from the 'Aragón' Brigade takes over within NATO's mission in Latvia
2021/01/14Latvia
More information -
Spanish crews compete against those of the rest of the countries of the Operation eFP
Spanish crews compete against those of the rest of the countries of the Operation eFP
2020/10/15Latvia
More information -
Transfer of Authority of the Spanish contingent in NATO's eFP mission
Transfer of Authority of the Spanish contingent in NATO's eFP mission
2020/01/20Latvia
More information -
Soldados españoles llevan la Navidad a los niños de un orfanato en Letonia
Soldados españoles llevan la Navidad a los niños de un orfanato en Letonia
2019/12/16En Letonia
More information -
Spanish soldiers take part in an exercise to train British pilots who will fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria
Spanish soldiers take part in an exercise to train British pilots who will fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria
2019/12/04England
More information