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Merz's historic visit: German Navy and new strategies in Rostock
Chancellor Merz visits the German Navy in Rostock on August 28, 2025 to view the new headquarters CTF Baltic.
Merz's historic visit: German Navy and new strategies in Rostock
On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Rostock was all about the navy. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) visited the German Navy to get an idea of the current developments and challenges. A senior visit that is significant not only in the region but also in the larger NATO context.
At the naval command, Merz met the naval inspector, Jan Christian Kaack, for a confidential discussion. It was an exciting exchange that focused on the current maritime challenges and the future direction of the German Navy.
The new maritime surveillance headquarters
The CTF Baltic plays a key role in coordinating naval activities and ensuring a common maritime situational awareness. In peacetime, the staff is staffed with up to 180 soldiers; in the event of a crisis, this number can rise to up to 240.
The practical part of the visit
After the discussions in the naval command, Merz flew by helicopter to the submarine hunting frigate “Bayern”. A planned tour was waiting for him there, which was intended to demonstrate the capabilities of a network of naval ships at sea. Aspects such as maritime supply exercises, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare, and defense against missile attacks were on the agenda.
The German Navy, which with around 15,300 soldiers is the smallest branch of the Bundeswehr, demonstrated how multifunctional it is in an international context. In comparison, the Air Force and the Army are significantly larger with 28,000 and 63,000 soldiers, but the role of the Navy is becoming increasingly important, especially within NATO.
International understanding and cooperation
The international dimension of maritime security has increased in recent years. CTF Baltic coordinates not only German military, but also international participation from 13 NATO countries, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy and Poland. This collaboration brings together resources and strategies to meet the challenges in a changing geopolitical environment. According to the research cooperation from ISPK Such strategies are continuously analyzed and further developed.
Naval activities led by CTF Baltic are not limited to exercises. In January 2025, a suspected sabotage of an undersea cable was even investigated, demonstrating the versatility and challenges of maritime security. The relocation of the staff to Poland in 2028 will be a further step in this dynamic development.
Merz’s visit can be seen as a sign of the growing importance of maritime forces within NATO. The challenges of the international context require a good hand and a regulated strategy - the Federal Navy is working hard to live up to this responsibility.