NATO boosts Baltic strength with new command center launch
On Monday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius inaugurated NATO's new command center, the Command Task Force Baltic (CTF Baltic), in Rostock. With the involvement of a dozen countries the North Atlantic Alliance aims to strengthen defense readiness in the Baltic Sea.
CTF Baltic will manage the naval forces of NATO countries both in peacetime and during crises or conflicts. It will also plan maritime operations and training projects. Furthermore, the command center will provide a continuous situational overview of military and civilian shipping traffic in the Baltic Sea, as reported by Tagesschau and cited by PAP.
In addition to Germany, 11 countries are involved in CTF Baltic: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden.
The new command is not a direct response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. However, during the opening ceremony, Pistorius mentioned the potential threat from Russia. He stated that CTF Baltic will play a "decisive role in protecting NATO countries' interests against aggression, especially in light of Russia's proximity."
More than two years have passed since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and it has become clear that Vladimir Putin's war targets more than just that state. His real enemy is our free, independent, and democratic way of life, said Pistorius. The minister emphasized that security in the Baltic region is inextricably linked to the security of all of Europe.
In the military base on the Baltic, not only Germans
According to information provided by Reuters, during peacetime, the military base on the Baltic will be staffed by about 120 German employees. An additional 60 will come from other countries.
Reuters indicates that a German admiral will lead CTF Baltic. His deputy for the next two years will be Rear Admiral Piotr Nieć, who, after this period, will serve as the chief of staff of CTF Baltic for another two years.
