Germany steps up on NATO's east flank as new HQ takes over in Baltics

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has travelled to Estonia to mark the handover of command of NATO's land forces in Estonia and Latvia to the German-Dutch Corps, underlining Germany's commitment to a stronger role on the alliance's eastern flank.

Pistorius landed in the Estonian city of Tartu on Monday evening.

The German-Dutch Corps is to assume command of the alliance's land forces stationed in Estonia and Latvia on Tuesday. The handover ceremony is due to take place in the town of Valga on the Estonian-Latvian border.

"Germany and the Netherlands are demonstrating their readiness and ability to take on responsibility for deterrence and defence on NATO's eastern flank," the Defence Ministry in Berlin said.

The corps will be responsible for military exercises and, in the event of a conflict, for the defence of the eastern flank. That responsibility has so far rested with NATO's headquarters in Poland. The establishment of a headquarters for the Baltic States had been under discussion since the NATO summit in 2023.

The German-Dutch Corps was established in 1995 and is based in Münster. Command rotates between the two countries. In addition to the Netherlands and Germany, 14 other NATO allies currently contribute personnel.

The headquarters can command an international force of around 50,000 troops and has led several international operations in the past.