Stoltenberg: NATO Spearhead Force to Become Fully Operational in 2016

BRUSSELS, December 1 (Sputnik) — NATO's high readiness Spearhead Force will become fully operational in 2016, the alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated Monday.

"We are also developing a Spearhead Force, able to respond within days. We are working to stand up this new force in 2016," Stoltenberg said at a press conference.

The creation of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, or the Spearhead Force, was agreed during the NATO summit held in Wales in September in order to boost the combat readiness of the alliance.

Speaking of the interim Spearhead Force, Stoltenberg said that it "is going to be operational early next year and that way we [NATO] are ahead of schedule."

According to the secretary general, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway will take part in the creation of the interim Spearhead Force.

Defense ministers from NATO member nations will determine the Spearhead Force tasks in 2015.

The Spearhead Force will form part of the NATO Response Force, an association of military units from NATO countries that are in constant combat readiness. The Response Force is composed of ground, air, naval units and special forces.