The UK- and France-led ‘Coalition of the Willing’ will hold the first exercise in Poland this November for a multinational force it plans to deploy to Ukraine after a war ends. South Korea’s SBS, citing The Guardian, reported that Western officials have drawn up rules of engagement that allow the force to return fire if Russia attacks first.
According to SBS citing The Guardian on Tuesday, the coalition is preparing its military arm, the Multinational Force-Ukraine (MNF-U), formerly called the ‘Security Guarantee Force’. Participants include the UK, France, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Spain, with about 2,800 ground, naval and air personnel. The first exercise, ‘Coalicia’, was reported as running Nov. 9-22.
광고 문의 · 300×250The UK Ministry of Defence says the force is neither a peacekeeping nor a ceasefire-monitoring force and has no connection to NATO. It would deploy only at the Ukrainian government’s invitation and after fighting ends, with the core task of rebuilding and strengthening Ukraine’s military so it can deter, and if necessary defend against, future Russian aggression. For that reason, the label ‘peacekeeping force’ used by some is not accurate.
If Russia attacks
A Western official quoted by The Guardian said the deployment is ‘defensive in nature’ and that ‘clearly we will protect our forces against any attack’. Under the rules of engagement, the force can return fire if Russia attacks first, and self-defense against Russian drone attacks is permitted. The Guardian noted, however, that self-defense is often interpreted broadly, leaving open how Russia would react.
Russia says it will not tolerate European troops in Ukraine. With no ceasefire date set, deployment remains largely hypothetical, and AP reported that some experts doubt it will happen at all. The Guardian pointed out that Russia kept up low-level attacks even during ceasefires between its 2014 annexation of Crimea and its 2022 full-scale invasion, so armed clashes involving British troops cannot be ruled out.
The US role is another variable. Commander Lt. Gen. Tom Bateman said the force is ‘non-NATO’ and that few US assets are expected in Ukraine, and one official said it does not rely on US systems. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the wider coalition has 35 nations and MNF-U has military commitments from 24, with an operational-level headquarters in Paris. Reports we reviewed differ by outlet on exercise details and dates, so that point needs further confirmation.
