Moscow threatens Germany again over creation of ‘NATO headquarters’
23 October 2024 01:59
Russia has lodged a protest with Germany over Berlin’s decision to establish a regional headquarters for NATO’s maritime command in the city of Rostock in eastern Germany. This was reported by Bild, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
On Monday, 21 October, a new tactical naval headquarters was opened in Rostock. In particular, the headquarters will carry out NATO tasks. On 22 October, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned German Ambassador to Moscow Alexander Graf Lambsdorff and protested.
Bild notes that the new base cannot actually be considered NATO’s headquarters, but rather the headquarters of the German Navy with international participation. Rostock will not be a permanent location for NATO troops.
However, the Russian Foreign Ministry accuses Germany of “grossly violating the spirit and letter of the Final Settlement Agreement on Germany of 12 September 1990 [the “Pact 2 4” signed between the divided GDR and Germany, as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union], according to the provisions of Article 5, paragraph 3, of which it is obliged to prevent the stationing and deployment of foreign troops on the territory of the former GDR.
The Russians also stated that the expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure in this area would have negative consequences and that they demanded an explanation from Berlin.
Due to fears that Russia may expand its aggression after the invasion of Ukraine, NATO opened a command centre in the German city of Rostock, led by the German Navy.
The headquarters will monitor the situation in the region and organise the naval activities of NATO Allies.
German Admiral Stefan Geisch has been appointed as the head of the new headquarters for the next 4 years. Then Poland and Sweden will take their turn.
According to Pistorius, the Russian air force “deliberately provokes and violates” the airspace of Germany and its partners. Russian research ships have often come “suspiciously close” to infrastructure, pipelines and wind farms.
