Germany plans to build a new naval base in the city of Emden in the northwest of the country amid a worsening international security situation, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced.
“This is important for us because it will be a major naval base,” Pistorius said during a ceremony in Emden, where senior officials signed a letter of intent for the facility.
“From here, we can quickly reach the North Atlantic and the North Sea. The strategic location is also crucial, particularly in relation to our NATO allies, our joint training and operational areas, as well as joint training activities,” he added.
The new facility will become Germany’s fifth major naval base and is expected to ease the pressure on the Wilhelmshaven naval base, which is currently the German Navy’s most important base on the North Sea.
Sources from the Defense Ministry said Wilhelmshaven will remain central, while the new base in Emden will complement it.
Pistorius said Germany had decided to expand its navy in response to growing international threats and the deteriorating security environment, as well as to meet its commitments to NATO’s deterrence efforts.
“We currently have the smallest navy in the history of the Bundeswehr while at the same time facing the largest and broadest range of tasks. Therefore, the navy must grow, and it will grow,” he said.
“Given the current international security situation, particularly in relation to the Baltic Sea, but above all the North Sea and the North Atlantic, this is of crucial importance because it strengthens Germany’s and NATO’s deterrence,” he said.
The planned naval base is expected to represent an investment worth several billion euros, according to media reports.
The facility is expected to reach full operational readiness in 2030, and up to 2,000 military and civilian personnel could eventually be stationed at the site. /AA/
