Rostock in focus: dispute over a naval base and Russia's allegations

Rostock in focus: dispute over a naval base and Russia's allegations

Rostock, Deutschland - Brussels. The opening of the Commander Task Force Baltic (CTF Baltic) of the German Navy in Rostock ensures heated debates, especially after the allegations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to an alleged violation of the 2+4 contract. The German ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff was ordered for a conversation, while the Department of Defense in Berlin made it clear that the CTF Baltic is not a NATO service. The location remains in German hands, but is used to coordinate NATO activities in the Baltic Sea, including exercises with partners of other NATO countries.

The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the naval unit in Rostock is a "national headquarters with multinational participation". The troop structure, which also includes 25 liaison officers from eleven NATO countries, is to be subordinate to the NATO command Marcom if necessary, but remains formally under German management. Lambsdorff also rejected the Russian allegations that the integration into NATO structures is a violation. Experts support this position and argue that the establishment of a command cannot be equated with stationing troops. The geopolitical importance of the location is growing because NATO observes an increasing threat from Russian activities in the Baltic Sea, especially near critical infrastructure. Detailed information can be found on www.rnd.de.