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 assist in deterring Russia, sources in Berlin reported on Thursday.
The joint command center of Germany and the Netherlands, known as 1GNC, will take on a command role on NATO's eastern flank in the coming months, particularly in the region of Estonia and Latvia, according to a statement from the German Ministry of Defense.
Reuters reported this week that NATO will strengthen the defense of its eastern flank and ensure the rapid deployment of alliance forces to Latvia and Estonia in the event of war with Russia.
Currently, NATO contingents in the Baltic States and Poland are under a single command located in Szczecin, but changes to the command structure are planned in accordance with the strategic significance of the Baltic States.
The establishment of another corps will address issues related to the limited strategic depth and vulnerability of this region, one military official indicated.
In full strength, the corps consists of 40,000 to 60,000 personnel; however, in peacetime, it consists of a command structure and specialized technical services, so it can be rapidly deployed in the event of war.
Germany and the Netherlands, in coordination with NATO, have reached an agreement to create a German-Dutch corps, which will be stationed in Munster and tasked with the defense of Latvia and Estonia, military sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
It is still unclear when the agreement will come into effect and how many soldiers will fall under the new command center in the event of a conflict.
The Dutch Ministry of Defense indicated that the development of the plan to create the corps is currently ongoing but declined to disclose further details.
