A combined German-Dutch army corps will take command of NATO land forces in Estonia and Latvia later this year, as the alliance moves to reinforce its eastern flank against a potential Russian attack.
The 1 German-Netherlands Corps (1GNC), headquartered in the German city of Muenster, will become a tactical NATO headquarters in the region by mid-2026, according to a joint statement released by the German and Dutch defense ministries on Thursday.
NATO is expected to formally approve the new command structure this summer.
NATO Strengthens Eastern Flank
Currently, NATO forces stationed across the Baltic states and northern Poland operate under a single multinational headquarters based in Szczecin, Poland.
Military officials said the new arrangement is designed to improve NATO’s ability to respond rapidly in the region, which is considered strategically vulnerable due to its limited depth and proximity to Russia.
A military official told Reuters that the changes would help NATO bring in “mass at speed” if needed.
“The deployment of an additional tactical headquarters in the region strengthens coherence within NATO and contributes to Russia’s deterrence,” the German and Dutch defense ministries said in their joint statement.
New Role for 1 German-Netherlands Corps
The 1 German-Netherlands Corps has been preparing for its expanded NATO role for months.
Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgoz said the corps had “thoroughly prepared” for the mission, referring to a visit she made to the headquarters in March.
The corps will oversee NATO land operations in Estonia and Latvia as part of the alliance’s broader strategy to reinforce collective defense in northeastern Europe.
