The Covid-19 pandemic caught many countries on the back foot. Civil response capacities and health care systems became quickly overwhelmed by the sharply rising number of patients. In this situation, many governments reached out to their armed forces and integrated them into the response to this unprecedented health crisis.
Experts agree that this health crisis will not be the last and that we must learn the lessons from the pandemic and start preparing for the next, which might be even worse. Given the substantial role of military forces in the response of many governments to the health crisis, it is necessary to analyse the role of the armed forces in the pandemic and draw lessons from it.
This study analyses the impact of the pandemic on national militaries and the support provided by the armed forces of six different countries in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. From the analysis and overall assessment, the study identifies lessons learned to address future health crises more effectively. It also provides an overview of how civil–military cooperation works in the countries analysed. From the experience gained in different countries and contexts, decision-makers can derive conclusions and concrete measures.
Read our study „The Role of Armed Forces in the Covid-19 Pandemic“ here as a PDF.
