NATO is cooperating closely with other international players and partners in the effort to combat international terrorism. It is endeavouring to be able to react better to terrorist threats by providing training support and advisory services for partners, as well as strengthening allied countries and NATO missions and operations. This is also the aim of NATO’s participation in the Global Coalition against Daesh.

Currently, NATO is conducting the following operations:

Resolute Support (RS) in Afghanistan

Since the end of the mission of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, NATO has been supporting Afghanistan through the follow-on Resolute Support Mission, which began in January 2015 and provides training, advice and assistance to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. The aim is to enable them to better exercise their full responsibility for security across the country. This means that Resolute Support, unlike its predecessor ISAF, is purely a training, advisory and support mission.  In 2020, as a demonstration of their support for the peace process – which has gained momentum since 2019 – the participating nations and their operational partners have marginally reduced their troop presence. Some 11,900 soldiers in Resolute Support Mission continue to be deployed to the Kabul area, as well as in four regional spokes. Germany contributes up to 1300 troops to Resolute Support, is lead nation for the northern spoke and operates a headquarters in Mazar-e-Sharif, in Balkh Province.

Kosovo Force (KFOR)

Since 1999, KFOR has contributed to ensuring a secure and stable environment in Kosovo, also by providing support to the European Union’s EULEX mission. KFOR is supporting the establishment of a stable, democratic and multi-ethnic state in Kosovo, as well as the development of security structures. To this end, KFOR works in close cooperation with the Government of Kosovo, local authorities, and international organisations (the EU and the United Nations). Some 27 nations, including Germany, are currently participating with a total of around 3500 troops.

Operation Sea Guardian (OSG)

At their Warsaw Summit in 2016, NATO Heads of State and Government decided to establish a new maritime security operation in the Mediterranean. Operation Sea Guardian (OSG) succeeded Operation Active Endeavour, which began operating back in 2001. The OSG mission monitors maritime areas in the Mediterranean region, contributes to the capacity-building efforts of the coastal states, and provides support in the fight against terrorism. The operation is based on general maritime law. The North Atlantic Council can also make a decision by consensus to charge the operation with assisting the EU and its EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI in implementing the arms embargo on Libya.

NATO Mission Iraq

At the NATO summit in Brussels in 2018, the allied Heads of State and Government decided to establish a new training mission in Iraq: NATO has provided up to 580 troops to help the Iraqi Government develop a professional military training system, as well as to advise and train Iraq’s armed forces. The mission builds on previous NATO activities in Iraq in areas such as medical care, the clearance of booby-traps, mine and ordnance clearance, the maintenance of military vehicles from Soviet stocks as well as civil-military planning.