Rutte Reaffirms NATO Readiness on Northern and Eastern Flanks During Brunssum Visit

Overview

• During a visit to Joint Force Command Brunssum, Rutte praised newly appointed commander General Ingo Gerhartz and cited German Air Force reforms that improved operational readiness.
• He said Brunssum sits at a critical point for managing pressure from Moscow in areas where Russia seeks to test Allied resolve and responses.
• Rutte noted recent NATO actions after Russian airspace violations and highlighted a strong presence in the air, at sea, and on the ground.
• He pointed to forward land forces on the eastern flank and the two‑week Bold Panzer exercise in Estonia as concrete demonstrations of collective defence.
• Rutte also toured NATO’s AWACS base in Geilenkirchen, calling the fleet the Alliance’s eyes in the sky and recognising North Rhine‑Westphalia’s support to deterrence.