NATO said on Wednesday it had begun a mission to boost its presence in the Arctic, as part of a deal to reduce serious tensions within the alliance caused by US President Donald Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland from the US.
The new mission, called Arctic Sentry, will coordinate NATO allies’ increasing military activities in the region, including exercises like Denmark’s “Arctic Endurance,” the alliance’s military headquarters said.
– Arctic Sentry underlines the Alliance’s commitment to protect its members and maintain stability in one of the most important and challenging strategic and environmental areas of the world – said US Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
– The mission will use the strength of NATO to protect our territory and ensure that the Arctic and the High North remain safe – he said.
NATO began planning the mission after Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held talks in Davos last month at the height of the crisis over Greenland, sparked by Trump’s insistence that the US must own the territory, which is part of NATO ally Denmark.
NATO launches Arctic Sentry to ensure security in the Arctic and High North
❝Arctic Sentry underscores the Alliance’s commitment to safeguard its members and maintain stability in one of the world’s most strategically significant areas❞ – Supreme Allied Commander Europe pic.twitter.com/rcoU747mXp
— NATO (@NATO) February 11, 2026
Rutte and Trump agreed that NATO should play a greater role in protecting the Arctic, while Denmark, the US and Greenland will continue further discussions on Greenland.
Earlier, British Defense Secretary John Healey said that British armed forces will play a key role in NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission.
The British government also said the British-led security alliance, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), is planning significant military activity in the High North, with hundreds of troops to be deployed to Iceland, the Denmark Straits and Norway in an exercise planned for September.
The JEF consists of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
(Vijesti.ba)
