Allied Forces Baltic Approaches (BALTAP) was the NATO command with responsibility for the Baltic Sea area. It was in existence from 1962 to 2002. The NATO command Baltic Approaches was created on 8 January 1962, with headquarters in Karup, Denmark. It was created at Germany's urging, in order to end the previous separation of the German naval forces between the NATO commands Northern Europe and Central Europe. After the changes in the international security situation in 1990, the command was restructured in 1993 and deactivated in 2002.