Joint press release German and The Netherlands Ministry of Defence

Shoulder to Shoulder – 1 German-Netherlands Corps (1GNC) will take on the role of a tactical headquarters within NATO plans around mid-year. With this, 1GNC will assume a command role on NATO’s eastern flank, specifically in the region Estonia and Latvia. The deployment of an additional tactical headquarters to the region strengthens the cohesion of NATO and supports the deterrence of Russia.

The deployment of 1GNC contributes to a stronger European role within NATO, consistent with the agreements reached at the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague. NATO will formalise 1GNC’s new role this summer. 1GNC will then assume command & control of NATO- and national defence land units stationed in Estonia and Latvia. This gives 1GNC a significant responsibility for directing exercises and other preparatory activities; in worst case for defending the eastern flank. This responsibility currently lies with Multinational Corps North East (MNC NE). By establishing a second corps headquarters in the region, alongside MNC NE, Germany together with the Netherlands demonstrate their willingness and ability to assume responsibility for deterrence and defence of NATO’s eastern flank.

During the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, the NATO Force Model was introduced. The primary aim of the NATO Force Model is to be able to activate more units with shorter reaction times. As part of this initiative, NATO asked the Netherlands and Germany to offer 1GNC as a tactical headquarters for regional plans in the Baltic states.

“With the integration of the German-Netherlands Corps into NATO’s defence plans, both nations are assuming further responsibility for the security of Europe. We are committed to our role; with this Corps we are providing a success story of multinational cooperation. 16 nations work hand in hand in the Corps headquarters. In the assigned formations Dutch and German personnel are already serving side by side on a daily basis. This is what interoperability and responsibility for Europe look like”, said German Defence Minister Pistorius.

1GNC is a headquarters that, in peacetime, crisis and conflict, can command an international force of approximately 50,000 personnel. This means the headquarters directs subordinated units for exercises, deterrence activities and – if required – in conflict. In the past, 1GNC has already led several crisis management and peace support operations. The headquarters was deployed in 2003, 2009 and 2013 for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Between 2005 and 2024, 1GNC also stood on standby for the NATO Response Force for seven one-year periods.

The Netherlands and Germany rotate command of 1GNC, which was established in 1995. Up to early 2028, command rests with Germany. In addition to the Netherlands and Germany, a further 14 NATO allies currently provide staff to the headquarters.