NATO strengthens Baltic security with new Naval Command Center
Germany has opened the NATO Naval Command Center for the Baltic Sea. The new unit is tasked with enhancing regional security and improving NATO's ability to respond to emerging threats. During the inauguration ceremony, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated: "The relevance of the region has become even more evident against the backdrop of the ongoing Russian aggression in our immediate neighborhood."
2:19 PM EDT, October 22, 2024
The new NATO command center, Command Task Force Baltic (CTF Baltic), began operations on October 1 and was officially inaugurated on Monday, October 21. CTF Baltic is formed from the German navy's operational command, DEU MARFOR, in Rostock and will be led by a German Rear Admiral. It will be staffed by personnel from 11 other NATO countries. Rear Admiral Piotr Nieć, previously an expert at the Marshall Center, will serve as deputy commander of CTF Baltic for the next two years.
CTF Baltic takes control over the Baltic Sea
CTF Baltic will include Poland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom personnel. In peacetime, the staff will consist of about 180 people, while in times of crisis, it may increase to 240. The main task of CTF Baltic is to coordinate NATO naval forces' activities in the Baltic Sea region during crises or conflicts and to plan maritime operations in designated operational areas.
Baltic Sea as NATO's internal sea
With Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the Baltic Sea has become an internal sea for the alliance, playing a crucial role in its security strategy. The Polish Army notes on its website that between 2,000 and 3,000 vessels are in the Baltic Sea daily. The waters are a hub for international trade, raw material transfers, and passenger traffic.
Due to its strategic importance, the Baltic Sea remains an area of interest for the Kremlin, where military posturing is not uncommon. For instance, according to the Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office, NATO air forces across Europe made over 300 interceptions of Russian aircraft approaching Alliance airspace in 2023, with most incidents occurring over the Baltic Sea.
The region has experienced significant disruptions to GPS signals, which Sweden and Estonia have linked to Russian interference. In April 2024, Erik Kannike from the Estonian software firm SensusQ pointed out that Russia is heavily focused on electronic warfare, frequently causing large-scale GPS signal disruptions both within its territory and in neighbouring countries.
Such actions aim to create the "ghost navigation" effect, primarily affecting civilian ships. GPS disruptions hinder the movement of ships carrying goods under sanctions, for instance. Another motive for these actions could be to create unease in the West and demonstrate Russian electronic warfare capabilities.
The Baltic Sea is a region that could play a critical role in any potential armed conflict. Thus, NATO conducts regular exercises here to test readiness to defend communication routes, maintain sea dominance, and prevent maritime blockades. Such scenarios could risk cutting off supply deliveries or allied support. These maneuvers involve not only naval forces but also air forces, which together can repel attacks from both the air and sea.
