NATO launches new defensive mission in the Arctic region
NATO announced on Wednesday the launch of a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic region, in a move aimed at calming US President Donald Trump, who has backed down from his threats to annex Greenland. In a statement, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, affirmed that this mission, dubbed "Arctic Sentry," underscores the alliance's commitment "to protecting its members and maintaining stability in one of the most strategically important regions." He stated that the "multi-domain activity" will, in its first phase, combine efforts already being carried out by NATO members in the region, such as the upcoming maneuvers to be conducted by Norway and Denmark. It is not yet clear whether the new mission will include strengthening the military presence in the region. Following the launch of the mission, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen quickly announced his country's pledge to make a "significant contribution" to "Arctic Sentinel". He said: "We will make a significant contribution, and we must maintain this momentum to ensure that the Arctic region is included in NATO's long-term plans and exercises," noting that this support will be determined in coordination with other NATO allies. Trump’s threats last month to annex Greenland, which he justified by citing an alleged Russian and Chinese threat in the Arctic region, plunged the alliance into its biggest crisis in years. The US president backed away from his pledge to take control of the self-governing Arctic island under Danish sovereignty after saying he had agreed on a "framework" with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that would ensure greater US influence. NATO said in a statement that "the two leaders agreed that NATO, collectively, must take on greater responsibility for the defense of the region in light of Russian military activity and growing Chinese interest there." The launch of the "Arctic Sentry" mission comes after NATO launched emergency missions last year in the Baltic Sea and along its eastern flank in an attempt to fortify itself against Moscow.
0 Comments