NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte underscored the Alliance’s readiness on its northern and eastern flanks during a visit to Joint Force Command Brunssum.
Speaking alongside Commander General Ingo Gerhartz, Rutte called Brunssum’s role central to maintaining a “strong and credible” posture in regions where Russia seeks to probe NATO responses.
Rutte opened by thanking Gerhartz for hosting the visit and congratulated him on taking command in June. He said “we are very glad to have such an experienced General, and a fighter pilot, in charge at Brunssum” and highlighted Gerhartz’s previous efforts to raise operational readiness in the German Air Force. “The changes you implemented have helped the German Air Force to go from strength to strength and to play a leading role in our Alliance,” he said.
Focusing on Brunssum’s area of responsibility, Rutte argued that Allies face routine pressure. He stated that “Russia constantly tries to test our resolve and our responses, but the men and women in Brunssum make sure that NATO’s posture in this region remains strong and credible, no matter the threat or provocation.”
He described NATO’s recent actions in response to airspace violations and emphasised the function of forward land forces on the eastern flank. Rutte said these units “send a strong signal to any adversary that NATO takes its mission to protect each and every Ally very seriously.”
Rutte also referenced ongoing training, noting last week’s Bold Panzer exercise in Estonia. He described it as “a high intensity two-week exercise designed to test and reinforce NATO’s readiness on the Eastern Flank.” According to him, this reinforced NATO’s guarantee that “every inch of Allied territory is safe.”
Closing the appearance, Rutte thanked Gerhartz and JFC Brunssum personnel. “Thank you for your leadership, and thanks to you and your Command for the important work you are doing,” he said, adding that he looked forward to strengthening deterrence and defence with Brunssum in the months ahead.
