NATO on Wednesday said it had launched a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic, in a move to assuage US President Donald Trump after he backed off claims on Greenland.
“Arctic Sentry underscores the alliance’s commitment to safeguard its members and maintain stability in one of the world’s most strategically significant and environmentally challenging areas,” said US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
According to NATO, the “multi-domain activity” would initially coordinate efforts already being conducted by alliance nations in the area, including future drills by Denmark and Norway.
Germany announced it will send an initial four eurofighter jets to participate in the newly created NATO mission, while Denmark’s defense minister indicated his nation would contribute “substantially” to the effort.
Finland, which borders Russia by 1,340 kilometers (833 miles), praised the NATO proposal as a way to improve Arctic security.
But it remained unclear whether many additional military capabilities would be deployed to the region under the new mission.
“What is really new about it is that for the first time now, we will bring everything we do in the Arctic together under one command,” NATO chief Mark Rutte said ahead of a meeting of alliance defence ministers.
“We will also be able to assess what gaps there are, which we have to fill and of course we will fill them.”
Trump’s threats against Greenland last month — which he based on an alleged threat by Russia and China in the Arctic — plunged the transatlantic alliance into its deepest crisis in years.
