NATO establishes new Baltic headquarters to enhance regional security

Germany and the Netherlands have assumed command of NATO's land forces stationed in Estonia and Latvia, establishing a new headquarters aimed at strengthening deterrence and defence on the alliance's eastern flank.

The handover ceremony took place in the Estonian-Latvian border town of Valga and was attended by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, dpa reports.

"It shows we are ready to assume greater responsibility for Europe's security," Pistorius said during the ceremony.

The German defence minister described the German-Dutch Corps as "a success story of military integration in Europe" and "a symbol of what we can achieve when borders become irrelevant."

"The corps is a role model for European defence cooperation and proves that multinational integration makes us stronger, more capable, and more effective," he added.

Under its expanded role, the German-Dutch Corps will oversee military exercises and, in the event of a conflict, coordinate the defence of NATO's eastern flank. The newly established headquarters will serve as a second tactical command centre for the Baltic region.

Until now, these responsibilities had been handled by NATO's headquarters in Poland. The creation of a dedicated headquarters for the Baltic states has been under discussion since the alliance's 2023 summit.

Established in 1995 and headquartered in Münster, Germany, the 1st German-Netherlands Corps (1GNC) operates under a rotating command shared by Germany and the Netherlands. In addition to the two founding members, personnel from 14 other NATO allies currently serve within the corps.

The headquarters is capable of commanding a multinational force of approximately 50,000 troops and has previously led several international military operations.

By Vafa Guliyeva