The inauguration, held three weeks later at the German Navy Headquarters in Rostock, was attended by Germany’s Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, and NATO’s Deputy Commander, Vice Admiral Didier Maleterre.
Pistorius highlighted the strategic significance of the Baltic Sea, stating, “The security of the Baltic region is inseparable from the security of all of Europe. The importance of the region has become even more evident against the background of the ongoing Russian aggression in our immediate neighbourhood.” He emphasised the Baltic’s critical role as a trade and military mobility corridor and a potential front line for collective defence.
The establishment of CTF Baltic is part of NATO’s ongoing efforts to adapt its command structure, a process that began in 2017. The headquarters will coordinate naval activities in the Baltic Sea region and provide a continuous joint maritime situational picture. As Vice Admiral Maleterre noted, “From what I see here, I am confident about our maritime security in the Baltic region.”
CTF Baltic’s core responsibilities will include planning maritime exercises and operations and leading naval forces during times of peace, crisis, and war. The headquarters will play a pivotal role in fostering cooperation among the allied navies in the Baltic Sea region. Maleterre added, “This CTF will be critical to develop tactical plans in the region, to gain significant operational advantage, and to retain decision superiority.”
The new headquarters is a German national command with multinational participation. Currently, personnel from twelve other nations, including Denmark, Finland, Poland, and the United Kingdom, are contributing to the staff, with more expected to join in the future. Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Germany’s Chief of Navy, remarked, “The sheer number of nations involved, extending beyond the Baltic Sea states, is clear proof that security in the region affects the whole Alliance.”
CTF Baltic will be crucial in executing NATO’s regional plans and bolstering the alliance’s deterrent posture in the Baltic Sea. As Minister Pistorius concluded, “Your professionalism and commitment are the foundation of our security.”