Reuters: NATO to create new structure to strengthen defense of Baltic countries

NATO plans to strengthen the defense of the eastern flank through the creation of a new command structure for faster deployment of forces in the event of a crisis in the Baltic countries region.

This is reported by Reuters citing sources.

According to the agency, the new structure will be focused on the operational strengthening of the defense of Latvia and Estonia.

Currently, NATO forces in the Baltic countries and the northern part of Poland are subordinate to a single multinational headquarters in the Polish city of Szczecin. The new corps should increase the speed of troop deployment and their coordination in the region.

As sources note, the creation of a command structure at the level of an army corps is planned, which in full composition is capable of managing 40–60 thousand military personnel. In peacetime, it will be a "skeletal" headquarters with key specialists ready for rapid deployment.

It is reported that Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to transfer the German-Dutch corps to the tasks of defending Latvia and Estonia. According to Reuters, the implementation of the project depends on the completion of the formation of the necessary units, including artillery, air defense, engineering, and medical forces.

The timing of the decision coming into force has not yet been determined.

Earlier, the EU decided to issue funds to the Baltic countries to ensure defense capability.