Germany today inaugurated a new multinational naval headquarters for the Baltic sea, with the capacity to lead NATO operations during a conflict, reported Reuters. This is happening at a time when the military alliance is increasing its attention to the region against the backdrop of growing tensions in relations with Russia, BTA writes.
"Our message to our partners and to those who threaten our peace is simple: Germany stands firm in its commitments," Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, according to a draft of his speech at a ceremony at the country's naval command in the Baltic the city of Rostock, on whose territory the headquarters is located.
"The headquarters will play a critical role in preparing reports on the military situation and in responding to regional challenges, including protecting the interests of NATO member states against aggressive actions, especially given Russia's proximity.
The establishment of the facility underlines the Baltic Sea's crucial role for NATO as relations with Russia soured following the war in Ukraine. Moscow's Baltic fleet is based near Kaliningrad, Reuters recalls.
Securing open sea lanes across the Baltic Sea has been essential to the alliance since its eastward expansion following the end of the Cold War, as Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Hungary, and more recently Finland and Sweden to the north, joined NATO.
In the past, NATO's primary role was to block the western entrance to the Baltic Sea to prevent the Soviet Baltic Fleet from reaching the North Sea. There, its warships could attack American supply convoys crucial to the defense of Europe.
Today, NATO must ensure that the sea lanes remain open, as they could be the only supply line to the Baltic states if the narrow land corridor connecting them is somehow blocked in a conflict with Russia with Poland, and thus with the rest of the territory of the NATO countries in Europe.