9 Nov. 2005

NATO tests Kosovo reinforcements News 01/11/2005 - KFOR KFOR rehearsals completed Key links NATO Kosovo Force Web site At the end of October, NATO completed a series of rehearsals aimed at ensuring that the Alliance can quickly reinforce its peacekeeping forces in Kosovo if and when necessary. The rehearsals, codenamed Determined Effort 2005, were planned since summer 2004 and began in March this year. During the the exercise, German and Italian ‘Over-the-Horizon-Forces’ were deployed into Kosovo to support the forces in theatre on a wide-range of missions. Ensuring readiness The violent riots in Kosovo in March 2004 proved just how important it is that NATO can quickly boost its forces on the ground. NATO has three levels of reserve forces to back up its Kosovo mission: (1) in-theatre highly mobile, rapid reaction tactical reserves; (2) Over-the-Horizon-Forces that can rapidly deploy into the theatre to augment the tactical reserves; and (3) an additional strategic reserve force that is available to NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and may deploy at short notice if required. Determined Effort 2005 tested the capability of the over-the-horizon elements to deploy and take up operational duties. It allowed the troops to familiarize themselves with the terrain and the kind of duties they would be expected to perform. Sign of commitment The rehearsals also sent a renewed clear message of NATO’s and the international community’s resolve and commitment to maintain peace and stability in the overall Balkans region. Under an agreement with the European Union, NATO’s reserve forces can also be used to reinforce the EU’s EUFOR operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.