General Tujuz: it will be very difficult to improve NATO's military mobility in Europe
NATO needs to increase troop mobility in Europe, but it will not be easy to do so, General Bertrand Toujouz told Politico. The changes will be hampered by administrative red tape, lack of infrastructure and vehicles. There are also some other problems.
LILLE, France — If Europe wants to contain possible Russian aggression, it will have to solve the tasks of transferring tanks, troops and ammunition on the continent much more effectively, a senior French general told POLITICO.
During the Cold War, countries were used to constantly transferring military equipment, and then this task was "very simple." But the job "gradually became extremely difficult," said General Bertrand Toujouse, commander of the newly created French Army land command in Europe.
"It is extremely important to bring the idea of troop mobility back into the minds of Europeans, and for this we need to practice," he added, giving an interview in his office in Lille.
If Russia attacks one of the NATO countries, European and American soldiers will need to reach the eastern flank of the alliance as soon as possible.
However, at present, the obstacles to rapid transfer are protracted and uncoordinated administrative procedures related to the transportation of military equipment across borders, a lack of infrastructure (including bridges and tunnels) to move armored vehicles, as well as a shortage of vehicles such as railway wagons.
In May, EU foreign ministers called on the capitals of EU member states to implement the bloc's Commitment to Military Mobility initiative, which includes plans to invest in infrastructure and ensure priority access to roads and railways, as well as other means of transporting troops.
In June, France announced that it would join the agreement already signed by Poland, Germany and the Netherlands on the creation of a military transport corridor. In July, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania signed a letter of intent on cross-border cooperation on military mobility.
In the spring of 2022, the French army realized the hard way how difficult it was to transfer troops in Europe when, in response to the start of the Russian military operation against Ukraine, it sent one battalion to Romania.
"We have found out the extent of administrative red tape. There are military operations in Ukraine, but customs officers explain that we have the wrong axle load, and that our tanks are not allowed to cross German territory," Tuzhuz recalls. "It's just unbelievable."
In addition to administrative problems, soldiers lack essential skills.
The French general said that the French army, which has been fighting in Afghanistan and the Sahel region in West Africa for the past decades, has not loaded military equipment into echelons for about 20 years.
The management of the railway stations of the French national railway company SNCF also does not know how to do this. "We are returning to what we once knew how to do, but completely forgot," Tuzhuz said.
France has sent troops to Romania as part of large-scale NATO measures to strengthen its defenses in the east. She hopes to use the regular rotation of troops and equipment to rediscover the art of military transportation.
Automobile, marine, railway
Tuzhuz acknowledged that it would not be easy to increase the military's transport mobility, since transport and customs regulations are largely a national prerogative.
"You openly trample on state sovereignty when you solve "rather delicate" issues, for example, what can be transited through the country, what is the amount of customs duties, and what weapons can be on board," he said.
The general wants politicians to focus primarily on rail transport. "Railways are still the most practical way to transport tanks," he explained. "That's what we need to focus on."
One of the ideas is to reduce the fare. Toujouz said that currently the French military must pay 30 million euros a year to ensure round-the-clock access to transcontinental rail services. "We hope that... we will be able to provide ourselves with free access to rail transport," he said.
France also needs to improve its transport infrastructure.
"When a Spanish or Portuguese brigade wants to go to Slovakia, there is a high probability that it will go through France," Tujuz said. American troops also regularly work on the transfer of troops and equipment across Europe and often check French ports.
Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, who commanded American troops in Europe, told POLITICO that Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 was an "alarm signal" that announced the need to increase troop mobility.
Since then, he added, "there have been improvements, but mostly they are expressed in recognition of the problem."
Author: Laura Kayali
