The supreme commander of NATO’s allied forces in Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, said on Thursday in Brussels that the Alliance is ready to plan a mission to protect the Arctic if requested. This statement was made after US President Donald Trump announced a framework agreement that he said satisfied his demands regarding Greenland, AFP reported.
In short:
- NATO is ready to plan a mission to protect the Arctic
- Politicians have not yet requested or approved a specific mission
- The alliance is also planning exercises in other parts of the Arctic
- Security in the region is strengthened by new technologies and capacities
“We haven’t done any planning yet. We haven’t received the political guidance to start acting,” Grynkewich said after a meeting of NATO chiefs of staff in Brussels.
Scenario of a possible mission
The launch of a NATO mission in the Arctic has been discussed as one possible scenario after Trump pointed to the alleged threat from Russia and China and used it to justify his plan to bring Greenland under US control. He retreated from his threats regarding the territory after the agreement that emerged from his conversation with NATO chief Mark Rutte in Davos on Wednesday.
Details on what exactly was agreed are still scarce, but NATO said part of the plan included strengthening security in the Arctic.
Exercises and new capacities
At a press conference in Brussels, Grynkewich added that although no NATO exercises are planned in Greenland in the near future, the Alliance will carry out long-term planned maneuvers in other parts of the Arctic.
The information that NATO will hold exercises in the Arctic in the coming months and is also preparing other activities was also confirmed by the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.
Regarding the further strengthening of the security of the Arctic region, according to Grynkewich, NATO must focus more on the future, including the installation of new sensors and the development of detection capacities.
Strong north wing
General Grynkewich assured that NATO’s readiness in the far north is in good shape also thanks to the “enormous capabilities” of the northern allies. He noted that the militaries of the Alliance’s two newest members, Finland and Sweden, are “uniquely placed to strengthen NATO’s northern flank and Arctic security.”
At the same time, Grynkewich played down concerns that Trump’s threats against Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that is a NATO member, have damaged the 32-member alliance. “We remain strong, we remain united and we remain ready,” he declared.
Threats from China and Russia
However, he admitted that the growing cooperation between China and Russia is a source of concern for NATO.
“In recent years, we have seen this in the maritime domain with enhanced joint patrols, as well as in the airspace with joint long-range bomber patrols,” the US general told reporters. “We are constantly trying to improve our position and look for ways in which member countries can strengthen NATO’s position in the Arctic,” Grynkewich added.
