Ahead of the NATO Summit, Allies meet to discuss logistics for collective defence
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In order to ensure NATO’s collective defence, it is necessary to have not only military plans, forces, and capabilities but also food, fuel, and other essentials in order to project and sustain combat power. Logistics includes the supply, movement and maintenance of equipment, personnel and services. It is crucial for any military undertaking, from early planning to execution and drawdown.
Effective logistics for large-scale collective defence operations demand a whole-of-government effort. Much of what Allied armed forces require is sourced through commercial civilian providers. So as part of NATO’s work in this area, extensive planning, preparation, and cooperation among Allies involves both military and civilian elements.
NATO’s new generation of defence plans are driving logistics preparations for collective defence. As a result of the biggest reinforcement of the Alliance’s collective defence in a generation, considerations on logistics have changed –as Allies need to work collectively to increase NATO’s logistics support in areas such as maintenance, supplies, stockpiling, and medical support.
Allies are increasing national investment in their military logistics capabilities through the NATO Defence Planning Process, and through the delivery of host nation support. Host nation support underpins NATO’s reinforcement and sustainment network, ensuring the necessary supporting structures and assets so that Allied forces can effectively and rapidly enter, transit, and operate across Alliance territory. NATO maintains and continues to evolve the operational standards and doctrine that form the basis for ‘interoperability’ among Allies and with partners.
In May 2024, Allies approved the Logistics Action Plan, which organises and directs efforts needed to deliver the necessary changes in logistics. Cooperation among Allies is vital to effectively support and sustain military operations at the scope and scale of collective defence.
On Wednesday, (07 May 2025) ahead of this year’s NATO Summit in The Hague, the Logistics Committee, NATO’s senior advisory body on logistics, met to discuss the progress made on logistics and enablement over the last year and to determine priorities. During the meeting, co-chaired by DCMC and Acting ASG DPP, National Logistics Directors addressed a range of issues, including rail transport capacity as a key means of moving and receiving reinforcements, assessing the Alliance’s fuel supply needs for collective defence, and considering logistics-related lessons learnt from Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024 and Steadfast Dart 2025. The NATO Secretary General also addressed the committee, and recognised their leadership of and commitment to work that is central to further strengthening the Alliance.