In 2015 NATO shifts its focus to Europe and creation of fast-reaction 'spearhead force'

In this Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 file photo U.S. President Barack Obama, fourth from left, is seated at a table with, from left to right: France's President Francois Hollande, Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi during a NATO summit at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales. Leaving combat operations in Afghanistan behind, NATO is shifting its focus to Europe in 2015 and the creation of its new ultra-rapid reaction force, designed as a deterrent to Russia. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)(The Associated Press)

In this Dec. 28, 2014 file photo, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Gen. John Campbell, right, and ISAF Gen. Hans-Lothar Domrose attend a ceremony at the ISAF headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. Leaving combat operations in Afghanistan behind, NATO is shifting its focus to Europe in 2015 and the creation of its new ultra-rapid reaction force, designed as a deterrent to Russia. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini, File)(The Associated Press)

In this Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014 file photo, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg gestures while speaking during a media conference prior to a meeting of the North Atlantic Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Leaving combat operations in Afghanistan behind, NATO is shifting its focus to Europe in 2015 and the creation of its new ultra-rapid reaction force, designed as a deterrent to Russia. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)(The Associated Press)

In this Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014 file photo, a Romanian military helicopter flies as troops from the United States Marine Corps Forces Europe watch, during a joint US-Romanian military exercise in Cincu, central Romania. The Joint Effort 2014 exercise is designed to test the rapid reaction capabilities of joint NATO troops and simulates the defensive strategy of an imaginary country confronted with an insurgency supported militarily by one of its neighbors. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)(The Associated Press)

In this Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 file photo, U.S. President Barack Obama listens to opening comments during a round table meeting of the North Atlantic Council at a NATO summit in Newport, Wales. Leaving combat operations in Afghanistan behind, NATO is shifting its focus to Europe in 2015 and the creation of its new ultra-rapid reaction force, designed as a deterrent to Russia. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)(The Associated Press)

BRUSSELS Leaving combat operations in Afghanistan behind, NATO is shifting its focus to Europe in 2015 and the creation of its new ultra-rapid-reaction force, designed as a deterrent to Russia.

The priority for the 28-member alliance will be to get the new agile expeditionary force into operation, but also settling the question of who will pay for it, analysts say.

The multinational force, often called the "spearhead," was ordered into existence by President Obama and other NATO leaders in September so it could be deployed to reinforce alliance members feeling threatened by the actions or ambitions of Vladimir Putin's Russia.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called the new force and other components of the reboot of alliance capabilities "the biggest reinforcement of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War."

Stoltenberg, now in his third month as the alliance's top-ranking civilian official, said it is his "top priority to implement this plan in full and on time."

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In 2015 NATO shifts its focus to Europe and creation of fast-reaction 'spearhead force'