Germany and the Netherlands opened a military headquarters in the Baltic region
to deter Russia, with the German-Dutch 1st Corps assuming part of NATO’s
eastern-flank defense from NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast at a ceremony in
Valga, Estonia. German Defense Minister Pistorius said the new high-capability
headquarters raises readiness, tightens command-and-control and strengthens
deterrence. US Army Gen. Donahue, commander of NATO Allied Land Command,
welcomed the move and said European states are taking on more responsibility
than in the past 35 years; the handover comes ahead of next week’s NATO summit.
