Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom and Ewell, raised a parliamentary question on 21 January 2025, seeking details about UK and other nations’ personnel contributions to the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) since 2016 and the UK’s financial contributions to the initiative.
Responding on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard explained the operational structure and contributions to the JEF.
He clarified that the Joint Expeditionary Force Headquarters (HQ), operated by the UK Standing Joint Force Headquarters, comprises up to 82 personnel from across the 10 participant nations.
This structure allows the JEF to scale its personnel dynamically based on operational requirements, with additional support provided as needed. For instance, the JOINT PROTECTOR exercise in November 2024 saw an additional 36 UK personnel deployed to augment the core HQ staff.
Pollard provided approximate figures for personnel involved in JEF activities since 2021. Notable operations and exercises included:
- 2021: Ex JOINT PROTECTOR 21, with 500 personnel (350 from the UK).
- 2022: Operations MARZANNA 22 and Ex JOINT PROTECTOR 22, involving 200–500 personnel (150–350 from the UK).
- 2023: Operations ASGARD 23, JEF WARRIOR, and JEF Response Option 3.2, with deployments ranging from 30 to 700 personnel (20–350 from the UK).
- 2024: NORDIC WARDEN and Ex JOINT PROTECTOR, with 700 and 400 personnel, respectively (350 and 300 from the UK).
- 2025 (to date): NORDIC WARDEN continued, with 50 personnel (20 from the UK).
While detailed data before 2021 is unavailable, the total recorded personnel involved in JEF activities since 2021 is 2,680, with 2,090 of those from the UK.
Regarding costs, Pollard clarified that the JEF operates under the principle of pooled sovereign resources, with expenses borne by the nation providing specific assets for each activity. This approach is guided by the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding, which allocates costs on a case-by-case basis under the principle of “costs falling where they lie.”
This response highlights the flexibility and collaborative nature of the JEF while providing transparency about the UK’s contributions to the initiative as the framework nation.
Not particularly ‘joint’ if we’re providing 80% of the personnel, kit and funding!
Leadership in action, to take responsibility for our Defence.
Crimlin media spend time saying how irrelevant and useless UK forces are, which proves they are rattled, and fear the independent Nuclear Powers. Deterrence in real life.
The UK showed great foresight in setting up the JEF, now it’s probably the most important organisation for European defence given the political cracks in NATO. Hopefully we let Poland in then keep it closed to anyone else.
Yes, Poland would be the full set as JEF consists of the United Kingdom, the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden), the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), and the Netherlands.
They would also raise the %GDP Defence spending across the JEF as well.
Distinguished Polish contribution during WW2 is not forgotten. 🇵🇱
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#vpdfo