From reinforcement to foundation: Ukraine and the future of NATO’s high-readiness forces in the new European security environment

This article examines the evolution of NATO’s high-readiness force structure amid the rebalancing of transatlantic burden-sharing. It argues that while the Alliance has significantly strengthened its rapid-reaction posture, its force model remains structurally dependent on the US and insufficiently adapted to the operational realities of contemporary high-intensity warfare. Against the backdrop of the US’s strategic reorientation towards the Indo-Pacific and Western hemisphere, Europe must develop new sources of military capability. The article argues that Ukraine should be integrated into NATO’s Allied Reaction Force not merely as another troop contributor, but as a foundational pillar of Europe’s continental defence, bringing its unparalleled combat experience, doctrinal innovation and operational expertise, acquired during the largest conventional war in Europe since the Second World War. Such integration would significantly enhance European military capabilities while strengthening the continent’s defence sovereignty and long-term security.