Recording: Joint Expeditionary Force and its Contribution to European Security

Ahead of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) leaders’ meeting in Tallinn on 16–17 December, RUSI is launching a new research paper on ‘The Joint Expeditionary Force and its Contribution to European Security’. This report is part of RUSI’s Transatlantic Trilateral Security Dialogue with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 

The JEF was founded in 2014 at NATO’s Wales Summit. Following the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea, the JEF responded by collectively increasing defence expenditure so that all members now meet the NATO 2% of GDP target. The JEF responded quickly to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, developing a political dimension, pushing for a stronger unified position against Russia, and pressuring other NATO members to step up support. It has collectively committed more diplomatic, military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine than all other non-US NATO members combined. 

In 2023, the JEF agreed a 10-year vision and an ambition to be a key framework within the future European security architecture. However, its second decade will be far more challenging than its first, as European security continues to deteriorate, and the re-election of President Donald Trump casts doubt on the US security commitment to Europe. 

Our speakers evaluated the first decade of JEF, assessed its reaction to Russia’s war against Ukraine, and discussed its potential future, including the expectations on the leaders’ meetings in Tallinn in December and in Oslo in May 2025. 

Panelists 

Ed Arnold, Senior Research Fellow for European Security, RUSI 

HE Mr Viljar Lubi, Ambassador of Estonia to the UK 

Mette Birkelund O’Connor, Counsellor, Defence and Security, The Royal Norwegian Embassy in London 

Ed Lucas, Senior Advisor, Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), and Columnist for The Times