German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius inaugurated NATO’s new naval headquarters in Rostock, designed to continuously monitor the situation in the Baltic Sea. In his speech, he stressed the particular strategic importance of the region, noting its geographical proximity to Russia, which he said is engaged in “relentless aggression” aimed at destabilization.
“The new headquarters will play a key role in protecting NATO’s interests, especially given its proximity to Russia,” Pistorius said (DW quotes him as saying). He noted that Russian aggression manifests itself in various forms – from hybrid to cyberattacks. These actions blur the boundaries between peace and war, undermine European security, violate trust and contribute to the strengthening of Moscow’s influence, added the head of the defense ministry of Germany.
The minister emphasized the need to prevent Russia from strengthening its position: “We need to do everything possible to prevent Putin from passing. We are obliged to defend ourselves and support our partners on NATO’s eastern flank.”
The Baltic Sea, as Pistorius reminded us, is one of the most important strategic regions in Northern Europe. This region plays a key role not only militarily, but also economically. Large wind farms are located here, thousands of kilometers of cables and pipelines are laid, and numerous ports are in operation. Germany, which has the largest military fleet among the Western countries in the region, as well as considerable experience and expertise in maritime operations, is now assuming responsibility for security in the Baltic, the minister said.
