NATO’s relocation of troops and equipment from Western ports to Russia‑ or Ukraine‑bordering states would take about 45 days, Financial Times reports, though officials plan to slash that to as few as three days.
NATO Relocation Timeline
Financial Times analysis indicates that relocating soldiers and gear from NATO’s Western flank to countries bordering Russia or Ukraine would take roughly 45 days. NATO officials, however, aim to reduce the period to five days or even three days in a best‑case scenario. Official estimates project that about 200,000 troops from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, together with 1,500 tanks and more than 2,500 other weapons systems, could be redeployed.
Transport Problems Exposed by the Media
German General Alexander Sollfrank, tasked with planning the country’s “transport shot,” stressed that every element must fit “like a Swiss watch.” Modernising transport infrastructure is deemed essential. EU states identified 2,800 urgent points, but Brussels has narrowed the list to the 500 most critical projects. These include harmonising rail standards across member states, upgrading road networks, and revising military transport regulations related to customs procedures and driver duty times.
EU Mobility Proposal and Polish Security Concerns
On Wednesday, 19 November, the European Commission will publish a new proposal on the mobility of EU forces. Ursula von der Leyen warned that “threats to our security are real and growing,” urging a rapid increase in European defence capabilities. She noted that Poland, the highest‑spending defender in Europe, will be the greatest beneficiary of the SAFE instrument.
EU’s Transport Upgrade Push
EU leadership plans to standardise rail gauge differences, modernise roads, and adjust rules governing military transport—particularly customs clearance and driver working hours—to support rapid deployment across member states.
