The geopolitical tensions that have escalated due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have brought scenarios involving the potential large-scale deployment of troops and equipment to NATO’s eastern flank to the forefront of Europe’s agenda. However, these scenarios have revealed serious shortcomings in Europe’s existing military logistics infrastructure and bureaucratic processes. Major General Fabrice Feola, commander of France’s Center for Military Transport and Operations (Centre for Operations and Transport Support), Major General Fabrice Feola, emphasized during a briefing in Brussels that in the event of a potential large-scale mobilization, Europe’s land transport network would face both infrastructure bottlenecks and “competition for resources” among stakeholders.
According to a Defense News report, Feola noted that border-crossing approvals for military shipments take “dozens of days” in reality, contrary to the European Union’s (EU) target of “5 business days.” These bureaucratic obstacles severely limit the ability to project power rapidly during a crisis.
From the Atlantic to the East: Resource Competition and the Need for Coordination
Brigadier General Feola highlighted a strategic challenge regarding military mobility in Europe. He noted that U.S. forces, which are likely to conduct a large-scale amphibious landing on the Atlantic coast, may have to pass through France to reach NATO’s eastern deployments.
Feola stated that this situation would create international “competition” for resources and necessitate the tight coordination of logistical resources. The rapid deployment of U.S. heavy equipment could conflict with France’s own logistical needs, underscoring the vital importance of international coordination. France added that it has strengthened the center’s operational capacity based on lessons learned from its deployments to Romania, but that numerous processes need to be reviewed to optimize power projection.
Railway and Infrastructure Compatibility: The Greatest Constraint
Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has heightened the importance of rail transport for military materiel. France stated that it organized approximately 150 international military trains in 2024, noting that this number was less than five per year prior to 2021. Rail transport stands out as the most suitable option for the rapid and cost-effective transport of heavy loads, such as tanks and ammunition, over long distances.
However, Feola emphasized that assessing route feasibility—that is, determining whether a tunnel or bridge can support heavy military loads —still takes a significant amount of time. For this reason, Feola noted that defining corridors suitable for military vehicles and convoys in advance —in terms of tunnel, bridge, and road capacity—is among France’s priorities under the new EU military mobility rules.
This initiative is also supported by the announcement by countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland of their intention to establish military transport corridors in 2024.
Proposed Solutions: Digitalization and a Coordination Authority
Major General Feola listed the steps that could be taken in the near term to overcome obstacles to military mobility in Europe:
Accelerating Permitting Processes: Digitizing customs documentation and streamlining border crossing permits at the EU level.
Operational Coordination Authority: Establishing an “operational coordination authority” to manage military mobility in Europe.
Railcar Fleet Readiness: Feola noted that, in addition to France, Germany and the Netherlands also have military railcar fleets, but that the readiness of specialized railcars and rail infrastructure will play a critical role in future deployments.
In conclusion, Feola’s remarks clearly demonstrate that for Europe to keep pace with its rapidly changing security environment, it must reevaluate not only defense spending but also fundamental logistics processes and civil-military infrastructure compatibility.
