Germany and the Netherlands will establish a joint tactical headquarters in the Baltic states this year to command forces on NATO’s eastern flank and help deter Russia, Berlin announced on Thursday.
The joint German-Dutch command centre, known as 1GNC, will “assume a commanding role on NATO’s eastern flank, particularly in the Estonia and Latvia region,” in the coming months, according to a statement from the German Ministry of Defence.
“The deployment of an additional tactical headquarters in the region strengthens NATO unity and supports deterrence against Russia,” the ministry stated.
1GNC is a command centre capable of controlling up to 50,000 troops when required.
Its responsibilities include planning and conducting military exercises,
preparing for potential conflicts, and directing forces in the event of war.
The headquarters of the unit — the German-Dutch Corps — is located in Münster, Germany, from where it can be deployed to NATO missions if necessary.
The new headquarters is intended to provide NATO with greater capacity and the ability to respond more rapidly.
“By establishing a second corps headquarters in the region, Germany together with the Netherlands is demonstrating its willingness and ability to take responsibility for the deterrence and defence of NATO’s eastern flank,” the ministry noted.
The Netherlands and Germany jointly lead 1GNC on a rotational basis.
The unit was established in 1995, and Germany will command it until the beginning of 2028.
In addition to the Netherlands and Germany, personnel for the headquarters are currently provided by 14 other NATO member states.
This week, Reuters reported that NATO will strengthen the defence of its eastern flank and ensure that alliance forces could be rapidly deployed to Latvia and Estonia in the event of a war with Russia.
Currently,
NATO contingents in the Baltic states and Poland are subordinate to a single command centre located in Szczecin,
Poland, but changes to the command structure are planned in line with the Baltic states’ growing strategic importance.
The establishment of another corps headquarters would help address challenges caused by the region’s limited strategic depth and vulnerability, a military official has reportedly stated.
At full strength, a corps typically consists of between 40,000 and 60,000 troops. In peacetime, however, it primarily consists of command structures and specialised technical services that can be rapidly expanded in the event of war.
Read also: “It’s dangerous to think everything will somehow be fine” — expert concerned about Latvians’ preparedness for crises