On Thursday (1 October 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte travelled to Münster to visit the 1st German-Netherlands Corps together with the German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Prime Minster of the Netherlands Rob Jetten.
The Secretary General thanked the German Federal Chancellor and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands for their resolve. The First German-Netherlands Corps counts as best example of "European Allies stepping up and doing more for the defence of this part of NATO territory. A stronger Europe in a stronger NATO," Mr Rutte emphasised.
As a warfighting headquarters, where 16 NATO nations work together side-by-side, it is capable of commanding an international force of 50,000 soldiers in the defence of Estonia and Latvia.
Later that day Mr Rutte received on behalf of NATO the 2026 International Award of the Peace of Westphalia by the Economic Society for Westphalia and Lippe.
