The Inspector of the German Army, Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, is exploring from October 26 to 30 together with his Dutch counterpart Lieutenant General Jan Swillens and all generals of the German and Dutch armies possible areas of operation in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Germany and the Netherlands bear joint responsibility on the NATO eastern flank in the Baltic region: Since July 1, 2026 the 1st German-Dutch Corps conducts potential NATO land operations in Estonia and Latvia. For Lithuania and Northeast Poland, the Multinational Northeast Corps is responsible.
The German and Dutch armies hold a joint high-level seminar every two years under changing leadership. For 2026, the Army Command, at the so-called “Griffin Seminar,” focused on the defense of the Baltics. Under the title “NATO Mission in the Baltics,” the generals of both countries deal with the requirements of the common defense on site and gain an understanding of terrain, infrastructure and operational conditions.
A Deep Understanding of the Situation in the Baltics Is Required
The aim is to further strengthen the cooperation between the German and Dutch army leaderships for effective defense planning. For this, Lieutenant General Swillens says: “Together we stand united, together we protect! That is our mission within NATO. Therefore we must know the terrain and have a deep understanding of the situation in the Baltics.”
And Lieutenant General Freuding emphasizes: “Planning exercises in our national training centers cannot replace the view on the ground. Together with our Dutch partners, we will therefore deepen knowledge of the defense plans on site in the Baltics and develop a joint tactical understanding. In doing so, we emphasize our readiness to take joint responsibility on the eastern flank. You can count on us!”
