News item | 28-05-2026 | 10:00
The German-Dutch Army Corps 1GNC (1 German-Netherlands Corps) will take on the role of tactical headquarters for NATO in the middle of this year. 1GNC thus takes on a leading role on the eastern flank of the NATO treaty area, specifically in the region of Estonia and Latvia. The deployment of an additional tactical headquarters in the region strengthens cohesion within NATO and contributes to Russia’s deterrence.
The deployment of 1GNC contributes to a stronger European role within NATO, in line with the agreements made during the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague. NATO will formalize 1GNC’s new role this summer. Then 1GNC gets it command & control about NATO and national land forces stationed in Estonia and Latvia. This gives 1GNC an important responsibility in directing exercises and other preparatory activities and, in extreme cases, in the defense of the eastern flank. This responsibility currently lies with Multinational Corps North East (MNC NE). By establishing a second tactical headquarters in the region in addition to MNC NE, Germany and the Netherlands demonstrate that they are willing and able to take responsibility for the deterrence and defense of NATO’s eastern flank.
It was announced during the NATO summit in Vilnius in 2023 NATO Force Model introduced. The main purpose of it NATO Force Model is to be able to activate more units within shorter response times. As part of this, the Netherlands and Germany have been asked by NATO to offer 1GNC as a tactical headquarters for regional plans in the Baltic states.
“1GNC has thoroughly prepared for the new task,” said Defense Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius. “I was able to see this up close in March during a visit to the army corps. With the new role of 1GNC, we are once again making a concrete contribution to strengthening the eastern flank of the NATO alliance and deterring Russia. It is also a good example of two European partners – Germany and the Netherlands – taking a step forward within NATO. In that context, I also thank my German colleague, Minister Boris Pistorius, for the good cooperation.”
International force
1GNC is a headquarters that can command an international force of approximately 50,000 soldiers in peacetime and in crisis or conflict situations. This means that the headquarters directs units during exercises, deterrence activities and – if necessary – in the event of conflict. In the past, 1GNC led several crisis management and peace operations. For example, the headquarters was used in 2003, 2009 and 2013 for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. 1GNC was also on standby for a year seven times between 2005 and 2024 as part of the NATO Response Force.
The Netherlands and Germany take turns commanding 1GNC, which was founded in 1995. The command will remain in the hands of Germany until early 2028. In addition to the Netherlands and Germany, 14 other NATO allies currently supply personnel to the headquarters.
This is a joint press release from the German and Dutch Ministry of Defense.
