The Netherlands and Germany have taken command of a stretch of NATO’s eastern flank, establishing a joint military headquarters in Estonia just days before NATO leaders gather for their annual summit. According to Bloomberg, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius attended the handover ceremony in Valga, an Estonian town on the Latvian border, where the first German-Dutch Corps assumed tactical control from the Multinational Corps Northeast, directing all NATO units in Estonia and Latvia, as well as national land forces.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “By adding another highly capable headquarters to NATO’s eastern flank, we improve our readiness, enhance our command-and-control structures and reinforce our ability to deter any potential adversary,” Pistorius said during his speech at the ceremony. New command’s scope and responsibilities The new headquarters will lead military exercises and preparatory activities in the region, as well as take charge of the defense of Estonia and Latvia in case Russian forces decide to attack. Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis joined Pistorius at the handover, highlighting the political weight behind the transfer of command. Europe takes on more than in the last 35 years The US General Christopher Donahue, commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, said Europe is now assuming more defense responsibility than at any point in the past 35 years, noting the significance of the recent shift.