The JEF concept was first conceived in 2012 and announced by the then Chief of the Defence Staff for the United Kingdom. The JEF arose from the Joint Rapid Reaction Force which disappeared as a result of the UK’s focus on Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Following the 2014 NATO Summit, the original seven Participant Nations (Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway and the UK) met in London and signed the Foundation Memorandum of Understanding. In 2015 the JEF was declared to be at Initial Operational Capability.
In 2017, JEF membership became nine as Finland and Sweden joined.
The signing of a Comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding in 2018 marked the completion of the process to establish the JEF, with strategic military relationships firmly recognised and processes in place to support JEF activation.
Beyond Full Operating Capability, JEF interoperability and operationalism continue to mature through an advanced Force Development agenda and regular training events planned over a four-year cycle. This activity maximises participation in existing Participant Nation exercise programmes and bespoke cross-government exercise activity. It remains wholly coherent and complementary with NATO training events and Participant Nation Defence exercise programmes.
In 2021, Iceland joined the JEF, bringing the number of Participant Nations to ten.
