How can Europe deter Putin? Revive the ‘Reforger'
When I was a junior officer during the Cold War, the biggest North Atlantic Treaty Organization military training exercises — perhaps the largest in history — were annual drills called Exercise Reforger. The goal was to ensure NATO's ability to deploy troops rapidly to West Germany if war broke out between the alliance and the Soviet Union's Warsaw Pact nations.
'Reforger' was a loose acronym of 'Return of Forces to Germany.' The first Reforger was held in 1969, and they ran annually through 1993, just after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. Forces from every country in the alliance participated, although the bulk of them were American — drawn from the 400,000 US troops stationed in Europe at the height of the Cold War.
At the time, only 16 countries were in NATO (today there are 32). The event was not just an exercise — it was an actual planning and execution demonstration of NATO's defensive war plans. It required the forces to 'marry up' with their huge stockpiles of equipment on NATO's eastern flank, called Prepositioning of Materiel Configured in Unit Sets (POMCUS) sites.
US Marines were also part of the flow of troops toward the potential combat lines, and the Navy's Sixth Fleet (focused on the Mediterranean) and Second Fleet (covering the North Atlantic) participated from sea. As a lieutenant junior grade onboard the US aircraft carrier Forrestal in the fall of 1980, I remember our participation in air sorties in support of ground operations. Even though we knew it was a drill, we took it with deadly seriousness; the intent was to be prepared to 'fight tonight,' as the saying went in those days. With the demise of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany, Reforger exercises were deemed unnecessary. But given Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to invade his neighbors, we should ask whether it is time to bring Reforger back. If so, what might the exercises look like in today's world? And are the NATO allies up to taking a larger role? The reason for the original Reforger exercises was simple: to create deterrence in the minds of the Soviets. The sight of 150,000-plus allied troops, hundreds of combat aircraft and dozens of warships helped keep Moscow from getting any ideas about further conquests in Central and Western Europe. Today, three things argue strongly for a new Reforger series.
First is Moscow's two decades of territorial aggression — particularly the invasions of Georgia (2008) and Ukraine (2014 and 2022). Putin has also sought to undermine free elections in various European countries and used hybrid warfare tactics to intimidate nations from Moldova to Armenia. Russia has threatened NATO's Baltic states and is building up offensive capabilities on the border of new alliance member Finland. A second reason for a new Reforger series is that Putin has turned his country into a war economy, devoting more than 7% of GDP to military spending (double the US level) and pouring 35% of his annual budget into financing the war in Ukraine. He is also recruiting mercenaries from around the world and has inveigled Kim Jong Un of North Korea to send him some 10,000 troops. Based on the rope-a-dope he is playing in negotiations with President Donald Trump over Ukraine, Putin seems unlikely to cease and desist anytime soon.
Third, Europe is finally waking from a long period of denial about the threat Moscow presents on its doorstep. The US allies are boosting military spending and seem ready to put together a major annual exercise to show Putin that they have the capacity and the will to fight if attacked. Ursula von der Leyen, the leader of the European Union, and the new secretary general of NATO, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, recognise that the moment is critical. A new Reforger series could take some lessons from its illustrious predecessors. It should include forces from each of the 32 allies, including contingents from even the smallest nations like Iceland and Luxembourg. This time, the bulk of the troops, aircraft and warships should come not from the U.S. but from Europe, particularly France, Germany and Poland. Overall command and control should be vested in NATO's supreme allied commander and run from the nuclear-proofed command bunker in Mons, Belgium — a place I know well.
Like the previous iterations, it should not be simply practice or a tabletop drill, but a real-time manifestation of current war plans giving commanders at all levels real authority over their troops. A potential breakdown of responsibilities in command and control: Turkey for land forces; Britain for maritime; Germany for air and missile defense; Belgium for special forces; Italy to protect the southern flank and the Netherlands on the northern flank. The US should focus not on manpower but on what it does better than any other country: providing intelligence, cybersecurity overwatch, satellite and space connectivity, artificial intelligence, and advanced drones and other unmanned vehicles. The US Sixth and Second Fleets should be involved, but as support for carrier strike groups from the UK, France and Italy. Above all, like its ancestor Reforger, the new exercise should focus on the swift flow of logistics.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UAE Moments
4 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Iran: Strikes Were Self-Defense, Diplomacy Still Possible
Nearly a week after a surprise Israeli attack that left several Iranians dead and caused major damage, Iran says it is still choosing diplomacy—but won't hesitate to defend itself. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared the country's stance on X (formerly Twitter), saying: 'Iran solely acts in self-defence. Even in the face of the most outrageous aggression… we have only retaliated against the Israeli regime and not those who are aiding and abetting it.' He emphasized that Iran continues to seek peaceful solutions, except when it comes to Israel, which he described as 'illegitimate' and 'genocidal.' Trump Tells Putin to "Fix Russia First" Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump had strong words for Russian President Vladimir Putin after he offered to mediate in the Israel-Iran conflict. Speaking in an interview, Trump recounted their conversation: 'I said, 'Do me a favour—mediate your own. Let's mediate Russia first, okay? Worry about this [Israel-Iran] later.'' His statement refers to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has caused global tension since Russia's invasion in 2022. What's Next? With both Iran and Israel continuing their back-and-forth attacks and global powers weighing in, the situation remains volatile. While Iran insists it won't escalate unless provoked, the region's stability hangs in the balance—especially with growing international involvement.
UAE Moments
4 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Israel Retracts Claim About Bushehr Nuclear Plant
Israel claimed on Thursday, June 19, that it struck Iran's only functioning power plant along the Gulf coast; however, an Israeli military official backtracked on the statement, creating confusion over what happened. The military official said, "It was a mistake" to say that they had hit the Bushehr Nuclear Plant. The confusion happened after Israel targeted nuclear sites in Iran, following the latter's missile attacks on Israel earlier on Thursday, on the seventh day of the Iran-Israel war. Israel attacked the nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan and Arak in Iran, according to an Israeli military official. The Bushehr power plant is located near the UAE and employs technicians from Russia. It is the only functioning nuclear power plant in Iran and uses Russian fuel, which Moscow takes back to cut down proliferation risk. An attack on this nuclear plant would be a big step; when the Israeli military official was asked about the attack on Bushehr, he said that he could neither confirm nor deny it. The CEO of Russia's nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said, "If there is a strike on the operational first power unit, it will be a catastrophe comparable to Chernobyl." Likhachev confirmed that Russian specialists had been removed from the nuclear power plant, but hundreds of people from the workforce remained on site. Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists on Thursday that Israel had promised him that Moscow's workers at the Bushehr site will be safe.
Middle East Eye
10 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Armenia's Pashinyan makes history with first official visit to Turkey
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made history on Friday by becoming the country's first leader since the Cold War to pay an official visit to Turkey. Pashinyan is meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, raising hopes that the two countries may soon normalise relations. Turkey broke off diplomatic ties with Armenia in 1993, following Armenian forces' occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh. While Pashinyan attended Erdogan's presidential inauguration in June 2023 and the two leaders have met at several international summits since then, this marks his first official visit to Turkey. According to a statement from the Turkish presidency, the trip is considered a 'working visit'. Both foreign ministers and special envoys for normalisation are also attending, allowing the delegations to discuss every aspect of the bilateral relationship. A senior Armenian diplomat told Middle East Eye that Erdogan extended the invitation to Pashinyan after a phone call earlier this month in which the Armenian prime minister congratulated the Turkish president on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'They had a good conversation,' the diplomat said. 'The invitation was later formalised through diplomatic channels.' The diplomat described the visit as historic, crediting the positive momentum to the two leaders' commitment to keeping communication channels open and 'patiently demonstrating leadership'. To prepare for the visit, Deputy Armenian Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan travelled to Ankara on Monday to review key issues. Speaking in Prague earlier this week, Pashinyan mentioned the improvement in Turkish-Armenian relations, noting that, unlike three years ago, the two countries can now communicate directly rather than relying on third-party intermediaries. Overcoming historic and regional tensions Tensions between Turkey and Armenia extend beyond the issue of Azerbaijan, a close Turkish ally and arch-rival of Yerevan. After a bloody six-week war in late 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military operation in September 2023 to take back the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, resulting in a ceasefire agreement. Most ethnic Armenians fled, and Artsakh, the breakaway region, was officially dissolved on 1 January 2024. The tensions are also rooted in the events of 1915, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians died after the Ottoman Empire ordered their deportation from Anatolia. Armenian leaders and much of the international community regard this as genocide and say 1.5 million were killed, while Ankara maintains the deaths occurred amid the chaos of World War I, with losses on both sides. Nonetheless, Pashinyan has recently downplayed this issue, expressing his desire to establish good neighbourly relations with Turkey, end Armenia's isolation and restore commercial and full diplomatic ties. The timing of Pashinyan's visit is also significant, coming amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran - neighbours to both Turkey and Armenia. 'But this conflict makes dialogue even more pertinent,' the Armenian official said. Turkey's last Armenian village struggles to survive after earthquake Read More » In March, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on a draft peace treaty, but Baku has continued to make additional demands and has pressured Ankara not to implement some of the confidence-building measures agreed with Yerevan in 2023. One such measure was the agreement to open the Alican-Margara border crossing to third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders. Armenia has completed its side of the renovations, but Turkey has yet to take concrete steps to implement the agreement. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is insisting that Armenia amend its constitution - which currently references Nagorno-Karabakh - before signing a peace agreement. Pashinyan has signaled a willingness to consider constitutional changes, but insists this should not delay the peace process. He has also stated his intention to sign a peace deal with Azerbaijan by the end of the year. Turkish officials told MEE they see Pashinyan as a 'visionary' leader seeking long-term stability for Armenia by resolving longstanding disputes with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Some in Ankara even suggest that Baku should be more receptive to Pashinyan's overtures and avoid maximalist positions, especially given the uncertainty of his political future with general elections looming next year. Pashinyan's visit comes immediately after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's trip to Turkey - a timing that has not gone unnoticed. On Thursday, Erdogan and Aliyev inaugurated a permanent housing development called 'Azerbaijan Neighbourhood' in the southern city of Kahramanmaras, built for the victims of the 2023 earthquakes.
