MÜNSTER, Germany — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called for continued support for Ukraine during an October 1 visit to the 1st German-Netherlands Corps in Münster, where NATO highlighted the headquarters’ ability to command a multinational force of up to 50,000 troops.
Rutte visited the corps with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
A multinational NATO headquarters
According to NATO, personnel from 16 Alliance countries work at the headquarters. NATO described the corps as capable of commanding an international force of 50,000 soldiers for the defense of Estonia and Latvia.
Rutte presented the unit as an example of European allies taking greater responsibility for the defense of NATO territory while remaining integrated within the broader Alliance.
Ukraine and European security
During the visit, Rutte linked NATO’s defense buildup to the security environment created by Russia’s war against Ukraine and other hostile activities affecting European countries.
His message, as quoted by NATO, was: “Keep calm, carry on, and support Ukraine.”
The Secretary General said NATO is accelerating work to build stronger defenses and emphasized that the Alliance’s core mission remains deterrence and the protection of allied territory and populations.
Why the eastern flank matters
Estonia and Latvia are NATO members bordering Russia, and the Alliance has expanded its deterrence and defense posture along the eastern flank since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Münster headquarters is not itself a Ukrainian military formation, but its multinational command role illustrates the broader changes underway in European defense planning while NATO members simultaneously support Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine remains outside Article 5
Ukraine is not a NATO member and is therefore not covered by the Alliance’s Article 5 collective-defense guarantee. NATO countries nevertheless provide extensive military, training, logistical and financial support to Ukraine through national programs and NATO-coordinated structures.