Publication

Following Russia's annexation of Crimea, NATO announced a range of measures to support its member states and allies in Eastern Europe, including the deployment of round-the-clock military forces. The Kremlin's official response to these measures included the accusation that the Alliance was violating the NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997 (NRFA), and in particular the pledge relating to Substantial Combat Forces (SCF). This paper takes a closer look at the NRFA agreement and concludes that NATO's planned troop deployments to Eastern Europe will not broach the thresholds described in the SCF pledge.