JEF Cooperation
The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), is a United Kingdom -led multilateral framework of ten nations for defence co-operation participated by the Netherlands, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Estonia. Finland joined the JEF in 2017 together with Sweden.
The Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ), the permanent JEF Operational HQ, is located in Northwood, London.
The JEF co-operation aims to develop the participating nations’ military capacities, pre-prevent crises, as well as enable operating jointly in crisis situations as applicable. Its primary operating environment is Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region. The JEF is a coalition of like-minded nations capable of responding rapidly when necessary.
A clear distinction between NATO and the JEF is resilience meaning that operating does not presuppose a consensus among all JEF nations; rather, the nations can either participate or opt out in accordance with decisions taken nationally. Additionally, any decisions concerning committed forces and capabilities are through national political decisions of the participating nations.
The JEF’s joint training exercises develop the joint capability for interoperable operating. The co-operation framework can be used for supporting, for example, an operation of the UN, NATO, or EU. NATO is a key guarantor of Europe’s security, and the JEF’s operating strengthens both the alliance and the joint deterrent. By building on the NATO doctrine, the JEF sustains strong relations with its partners. Common security challenges can be regionally discussed and swiftly responded to without protracted decision-making processes.
From the start, pre-prevention and countering of hybrid threats and broad-spectrum effects have been a major element of the JEF co-operation. Additionally, the JEF provides a good framework for long-term development that is based on the participating nations’ long standing and extensive experience in defence co-operation on many different fronts. Within the JEF framework, development activity is also carried out with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE).
The Finnish Defence Forces have participated in the JEF-exercises for a number of years now, and, since the start of Russia’s offensive, co-operation with JEF participating nations has increased. Alongside maritime and air component exercises, land force JEF co-operation has been coordinated with partners, a.o., in the Finnish-led Arrow exercise.
More information on JEF cooperation:
