In the context of the emerging global order, there is a noticeable escalation in NATO’s potential and operational activities aimed at deterring non-Western powers. This article explores the historical progression of the NATO Response Force (NRF) from its establishment in 2002–2003 to the commencement of its transition to a new force model in 2022–2023. The study is methodologically grounded in theories pertaining to alliance formation and military organization. The NATO Response Force (NRF) was established during a period when NATO member states were focusing their efforts outside the alliance’s traditional zone of responsibility. However, the NRF evolved into a military tool utilized primarily within the Alliance’s zone of responsibility. Two core principles guided the formation of the NRF: the emphasis on the leading role of European member states, especially the original members, over the United States, and the rotational deployment of its forces. The NRF maintained its status as the most critical of NATO’s troop groups well before the emergence of tensions between the West and Russia in 2014. Subsequently, the role of the NATO Response Force (NRF) has been further reinforced. This article examines the dynamics of its growth and organizational evolution, focusing on the two initial categories of the new NATO force model developed since 2022–2023 based on the NRF. The author pays special attention to the functioning of the NRF’s key elements since 2015, notably the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) and its land component. The practical significance of the maneuvers Noble Jump and Trident Juncture in adjusting the VJTF is also highlighted. Additionally, the paper discusses the roles of the framework nations (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, and the UK) in this process. In conclusion, the author reflects on the overall character of the NRF’s evolution and the practical implications of NATO’s growing military potential.
North Atlantic Alliance; troop groups; European member states; military power; multilateralism; new NATO force model; maneuvers; the USA; Germany.