Royal Navy takes charge of NATO's naval reaction force

The NATO flag flies from HMS Queen Elizabeth as Captain Claire Thompson and Rear Admiral Mark Anderson shake hands to underscore the start of work under the Allied Reaction Force

6 July 2026

The Royal Navy will lead NATO's Allied Reaction Force (Maritime), ready to respond to major international events for the next 12 months.

The NATO flag was raised on board aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, which will serve as flagship of NATO's leading high readiness naval force during a ceremony in Portsmouth Naval Base.

Rear Admiral Mark Anderson has assumed command of the Allied Reaction Force (Maritime) (ARF(M)) - the maritime component of NATO's response to international crises; deploying land, sea and air forces to defend and deter anywhere in the Alliance's area of responsibility.

HMS Queen Elizabeth will be the Afloat Command Platform, from which Rear Admiral Anderson and his battle staff will command and coordinate ARF maritime operations, if activated, during the UK's 12-month duty.


Royal Marines Commandos boarded a sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel in an operation alongside two Royal Navy warships and helicopters from the Maritime Air Group. Image by the Royal Navy.

"The UK remains committed to NATO and taking command of the maritime component of the ARF is a clear demonstration to partners and allies that the Royal Navy will play its part in responding swiftly and effectively to crisis," said Rear Admiral Anderson.

Command of the ARF maritime force was transferred to Rear Admiral Anderson, Commander of the United Kingdom Strike Forces, and his staff, from the Spanish Navy during a ceremony at the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy Headquarters near Milan last week.

UK Strike Forces is the Royal Navy's most senior ‘fighting' battle staff for planning, coordinating and executing operations, and designed to lead UK task forces as well as multinational missions, including with NATO and the Joint Expeditionary Force.

Rear Admiral Anderson and the Commanding Officer of Queen Elizabeth, Captain Claire Thompson, delivered speeches to mark the start of this endeavour to gathered sailors and Royal Marines during the ceremony on July 2.

The ARF(M) will now be primed to conduct operations at the direction of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, who would deploy the relevant warships, naval air power and support vessels to react to a crisis.

The Allied Reaction Force as a whole is held at high-readiness and is designed to facedown many modern-day challenges that require a coordinated response, including hybrid warfare, terrorism and cyber-attacks.

Royal Navy press release