The Joint Special Operations Command receives a visit from the Commander of NATO's Allied Response Force

•  The Commander of the MCOE emphasised Spain's commitment and willingness to continue leading this combat capability within the framework of NATO

The Joint Special Operations Command (MCOE) received a visit from the commander of NATO's Allied Response Force for 2025 (ARF 25), Italian Army Lieutenant General Gianluca Carai, at its headquarters in Retamares.

This visit is due to the fact that the MCOE is the Special Operations Component Command (SOCC) of NATO ARF for the second consecutive year, after Spain extended its commitment and availability until July 2026.

At the MCOE facilities, its commander, Major General Ángel Herrezuelo Pérez, welcomed the Italian Lieutenant General and, with the support of his General Staff, updated him on the situation of the ESP ARF SOCC. In his speech, he emphasised the experience gained during the first year of availability, the challenges faced in the demanding role of the ARF, and the future challenges facing the MCOE in the final stretch of its standby period.

After the presentation, Lieutenant General Carai had the opportunity to see first-hand the innovation and technology projects that have recently been used by the MCOE during SOFEX 25. This experimentation focused mainly on the techniques and procedures being used by drones in the conflict in Ukraine, as well as on virtual means of planning and command and control which, under NATO's technological accelerator called DIANA, are being tested by the MCOE.

NATO Allied Response Force (ARF)

The NATO Allied Response Force (ARF) is a strategic, highly available force with multi-domain capabilities. This force can be deployed at very short notice, and its composition can be augmented through scalable multi-domain force packages to strengthen deterrence in peacetime and during crises, or to create a strategic dilemma for adversaries. Furthermore, its flexibility allows the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) to assign additional forces to the ARF Commander as necessary, in any situation and across the spectrum of operations.

The ARF plays a crucial role as part of NATO's New Force Model, which supports the Euro-Atlantic Deterrence and Defence Concept (PDD) agreed at the Vilnius Summit in 2023. The EDP outlines military activities and deterrence objectives in peacetime, as well as military activities and defence objectives in times of crisis and conflict. In this context, the ARF is capable of carrying out a full spectrum of missions: from serving as a strategic reserve for rapid deployment in crisis situations, to acting as a deterrent force, to deploying rapidly in response to crises linked to other emerging situations.