NATO is set to reinforce its eastern flank by assigning the German-Dutch Corps the command of allied forces in Estonia and Latvia in the event of a war with Russia, Germany and the Netherlands announced on Thursday.
Currently, NATO forces stationed in the three Baltic states and northern Poland operate under a single multinational headquarters. The creation of a second command zone is expected to give the alliance greater flexibility to deploy additional troops to the Baltic region, which is considered one of the areas most vulnerable to a potential Russian threat.
According to NATO, Russia could be capable of launching a large-scale attack against alliance territory by 2029 if its military build-up continues at the current pace. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied having such intentions.
The newly announced change highlights the strategic importance of the Baltic region following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and comes as European allies increase defense investments and military coordination.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that integrating the German-Dutch Corps into NATO’s defense plans demonstrates both countries’ willingness to take on greater responsibility for European security. He added that the military structure includes participation from 16 countries.
Pressure on Europe to strengthen its defense capabilities has also intensified following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding NATO allies’ military spending.
