STAVANGER, Norway – STEADFAST DAGGER 2025, NATO’s capstone exercise for the Allied Reaction Force (ARF), started on November 25, 2025, at various locations in Europe.
Exercise STEADFAST DAGGER 2025 is designed to strengthen NATO’s capabilities and expertise in crisis prevention and management, focusing on global threats originating outside of the Alliance’s area of responsibility.
The computer-assisted command post exercise is scheduled by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), conducted by Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFCNP), and directed by the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC).
Exercise STEADFAST DAGGER 2025 will train land, maritime, air, special operations and logistics elements of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force 2026 (ARF26).
The ARF, led by NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy since July 2024, is a critical pillar of the NATO New Force Model, which directly contributes to NATO’s Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic area.
This high-readiness warfighting joint force can be deployed at very short notice to carry out a wide range of missions under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Through STEADFAST DAGGER, NATO not only prepares the next rotation of the ARF but also experiments with new concepts, ensuring transformation and innovation.
The training audiences of the exercise include the French 3rd Division as the land component command, the French Joint Force Air Component Command, the United Kingdom Strike Force as the maritime component command, the United Kingdom Special Operations Component Command and the French Joint Logistics Support Group.
Brigadier General Raymond L. Adams, the JWC’s Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, officially started STEADFAST DAGGER on November 25, describing the exercise as critical to the ARF’s development.
“The JWC delivers realistic, warfighter-focused training that ensures NATO is ready to respond as a cohesive, interoperable, and combat-ready team. STEADFAST DAGGER is an essential proving ground, providing the crucible in which we integrate multinational staffs and rehearse the complex realities of modern multi-domain operations—synchronizing effects across all domains to general warfare advantage for the Alliance,” he said.
It is an exciting time to be in the Alliance, as we transform at speed and scale to meet emerging threats with unity, capability, and resolve. We are collectively galvanized to help sharpen readiness, strengthen deterrence, and deliver the warfighting excellence our nations demand.
– Brigadier General Raymond L. Adams
JWC’s Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff
The JWC’s Deputy Commander explained that the out-of-area exercise directly contributed to NATO’s 360-degree approach to security.
“The exercise also strengthens deterrence and defence, accelerates Allied warfare development, and ensures the ARF is prepared to fight and win in an increasingly complex security environment.”
Nearly 1,200 military and civilian personnel are participating in Exercise STEADFAST DAGGER 2025, including external players bringing in their unique expertise.
The response cells within the JWC-led Exercise Control (EXCON) include participation from various NATO Command and Force Structure headquarters, centres of excellence, national entities and NATO Partners.
Lieutenant Colonel Tuan, the JWC’s Lead Planner for the exercise, said: “STEADFAST DAGGER 2025 is a unique opportunity to enhance NATO readiness. It will integrate British, French and Italian national commands into what will become ARF26. From its first preparation meetings to its final execution days, this exercise strengthens operational bonds, and perpetuates friendship and sharing of experience among Allies.”
Overall, STEADFAST DAGGER 2025 aims to strengthen NATO’s readiness, interoperability and multi-domain capabilities across the land, maritime, air, cyberspace and space domains. Furthermore, it exercises next-generation command and control while integrating a comprehensive and whole-of-government approach to security involving Allies and Partners.
Navy Lieutenant Burak, the JFCNP’s Lead Planner for the exercise, explained the significance of the planning efforts:
“This exercise, the result of two years of comprehensive and meticulous planning, stands as a valuable testament to the Alliance’s exceptional coordination, coherence and solidarity from its initial planning meetings to its execution.”
About the Joint Warfare Centre
NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) was established on October 23, 2003, in Stavanger, Norway.
The JWC is NATO’s training focal point for joint operational- and strategic-level warfare, responsible for delivering NATO’s largest multi-domain exercises at these levels.
The JWC acts as a hub for Allied Command Transformation and Allied Command Operations to further advance NATO’s transformation.
