Logistics is the cornerstone of all military operations. NATO is required to carry out a range of smaller, but demanding operations, in addition to simultaneously retaining the capability to conduct large-scale high-intensity operations in support of the collective defense. To do so, the Alliance must be able to launch and sustain these missions.

Since only a few nations can independently deploy and sustain their own forces, it is important that NATO and its Allies continue to pursue collective logistics in order to provide Commanders the required level of flexibility during current and future operations. Logistic efforts are pursued along four main lines of effort: develop more capable and interoperable joint logistic capabilities at the required readiness state, optimize the Command and Control of logistics support, improve the ability of NATO forces to deploy, and enhance both the interoperability and the sustainment of these NATO forces.