BRUSSELS, Belgium, Feb 12, (V7N) - NATO on Wednesday announced the launch of a new mission aimed at strengthening security in the Arctic, in a move seen as addressing concerns raised by US President Donald Trump over the strategically important region.

Dubbed Arctic Sentry, the initiative seeks to consolidate and coordinate existing alliance activities in the Arctic under a unified command structure.

“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” will initially combine ongoing efforts by member states in the region, including planned exercises by Norway and Denmark.

Denmark’s defence minister said Copenhagen would contribute “substantially” to the mission, while Germany confirmed it would deploy four Eurofighter jets in the initial phase. Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, welcomed the move as strengthening Arctic security.

However, it remains unclear whether significant additional military capabilities will be deployed under the new framework.

“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 Secretary General 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.”

The initiative follows tensions sparked last month when Trump suggested the United States should take control of Greenland, citing alleged threats from Russia and China in the Arctic. He later backed down after announcing a “framework” agreement with Rutte to enhance American influence in the region.

NATO said both leaders agreed the alliance should assume greater collective responsibility for Arctic defence, particularly in light of Russia’s military activity and China’s growing interest there.

Denmark and Greenland have since begun discussions with Washington on revising a 1951 treaty governing US troop deployments on the autonomous Danish territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said NATO members support maintaining a “permanent presence” in the Arctic, including around Greenland.

The launch of Arctic Sentry follows NATO’s emergency deployments last year in the Baltic Sea and along its eastern flank to reinforce deterrence against Moscow.

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