On January 30, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland signed an agreement designed to enable the "faster and more efficient" movement of troops and materiel from deep-water North Sea ports to Europe's eastern borders. "The large-scale war in Ukraine shows the importance of moving allied troops quickly," explained Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz on signing the agreement.

Neglected in defense budgets since the end of the Cold War, logistics has once again become a priority for the members of the Atlantic Alliance, as the Russian threat becomes increasingly pointed. "The first realization dates back to 2015, after the annexation of Crimea and Donbas, but it accelerated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022," commented Isabelle Dufour, director of strategic studies at Eurocrise.

The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted how far the West has fallen behind when it comes to "military mobility." Updated regularly by NATO during the Cold War, plans for moving large-scale resources across Europe have become partly obsolete (not revised since 1997), while the fall of the Berlin Wall pushed back the frontier to be defended by over 1,000 kilometers – this now stretches from Tallinn (Estonia) to Chișinău (Moldova). "The distances are now greater and the routes are no longer familiar," Dufour explained.

To catch up, the allies have embarked on major infrastructure projects. On January 24, the European Commission announced a further €807 million in aid to finance 38 "military mobility" projects, including the renovation of rail facilities in ten EU countries. In France, SNCF is to receive €54.3 million to renovate four rail yards for civilian and military use, and €3.6 million to protect the Bordeaux, Metz and Grenoble stations against "massive power outages."

In addition to rail facilities, "the projects will improve dual usage [civil and military] infrastructure in seaports in Belgium and Sweden, airports in Latvia and Lithuania, and inland waterways in France," the Commission stated. In total, Brussels plans to spend €1.7 billion over 2021-2027 to strengthen its military transport infrastructure. This is a substantial figure, but less than what was envisaged when the plan was launched. In 2020, the need was estimated at €6.5 billion, but member states preferred to postpone most of the investment.

In addition to strengthening bridges and ports, the military also recommends simplifying and harmonizing standards between European countries. In 2022, France was unable to send Leclerc tanks by truck to help Romania strengthen its border with Ukraine. "Germany refused to authorize the transit(...), citing European regulations and excessive axle weight," explained General Thierry Poulette, responsible for the logistics of the French army, at a parliamentary hearing on November 14, 2023.

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