NATO Bolsters Baltic Defence with New US‑Backed Corps

U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander General Chris Donahue told a ceremony in Valga, Estonia that the United States will stand with its European allies to defend the Baltic states. “You’re ready to do more … the United States will be there alongside you,” he said, adding that deterrence is built with “boots in the mud.”

NATO is creating a second multinational headquarters for the region, shifting two divisions in Estonia and Latvia under the German‑Netherlands Corps based in Muenster. When fully operational, the corps would command 40,000–60,000 troops, allowing rapid deployment of “mass at speed.” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the move shows NATO’s “determination to defend every inch of Allied territory.” NATO warned that Russia could launch a large‑scale assault as early as 2029.

Former NATO secretary‑general Jens Stoltenberg, speaking ahead of the summit in Ankara, stressed that Europe remains indispensable for U.S. security, saying the United States’ defence “begins at the European‑Russian border.” He cited Norway’s tracking of Russian submarines near the Kola Peninsula and contributions from Finland and other European nations as a critical early‑warning shield.

The announcements underline NATO’s effort to strengthen its eastern flank amid heightened tensions with Russia.