Why in the news?
Germany and the Netherlands announced the establishment of a joint NATO tactical headquarters in the Baltic region to strengthen deterrence against Russia.
Key Highlights
- The joint command centre is called:
- 1GNC (German-Netherlands Corps)
- Will operate mainly in:
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Can command up to 50,000 troops
Functions of 1GNC
- Planning military exercises
- Operational command during conflicts
- Strengthening NATO’s eastern flank
- Rapid military response capability
About the German-Netherlands Corps
- Established in 1995
- Headquarters located in Münster
- Germany and Netherlands rotate leadership
- Supported by personnel from 14 NATO countries
Note: The Baltic region in Northern Europe comprises the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. It is most commonly divided into the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), alongside neighboring nations like Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Poland, and Russia.
[2025] Consider the following countries:
I. Austria
II. Bulgaria
III. Croatia
IV. Serbia
V. Sweden
VI. North Macedonia
How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
[A] Only three
[B] Only four
[C] Only five
[D] All the six
