Conclusion 3

UK leadership of the Joint Expeditionary Force and NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk offers an opportunity to address any apparent overlap between these groups to ensure resources are effectively deployed to enhance deterrence and maximise warfighting capability. Although the Joint Expeditionary Force was originally intended to operate across the spectrum of conflict, it currently offers a quick response force to counter threats below the NATO Article 5 threshold, in the expectation that NATO would deter any escalation to warfighting. However, with less certainty around US commitment to collective NATO defence, the Joint Expeditionary Force’s more minimal capabilities could be seen as less of a deterrent, leaving it potentially exposed if an incident threatens to escalate. (Conclusion, Paragraph 45)