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NATO Launches Arctic Sentry as Answer to Russian Militarization and Chinese Arctic Ambitions
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NATO is finalizing plans for a new military mission in the Arctic, codenamed Arctic Sentry, aimed at enhancing surveillance and operational coordination across the region.
According to Reuters, the launch of the mission could be formally announced as early as this week during the upcoming meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
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Five officials familiar with the matter told Reuters that Arctic Sentry will center on improving the Alliance’s ability to monitor and respond to developments in the Arctic without deploying a large volume of new forces.
The mission is expected to include joint exercises, enhanced surveillance activities, and the deployment of additional maritime and aerial assets, including drones.
While the mission will not mark a major force build-up, it is seen as part of broader efforts to improve the efficiency of existing NATO assets in the Arctic and to reinforce deterrence.
A NATO official told Reuters the mission forms “part of efforts to further strengthen our deterrence and defense posture in the region, particularly in light of increased Russian military activity and growing Chinese interest in the Far North.”
According to Reuters, the planning of Arctic Sentry accelerated following discussions in Davos between US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and head of US European Command, stated on February 9 that the planning phase for Arctic Sentry is nearing completion.
“If the briefing goes well… we may have something we can announce later this week about how we’re moving forward on this,” he said, referring to an internal update scheduled with NATO’s Joint Force Command in Norfolk, Virginia.
The mission comes against the backdrop of intensified Arctic competition. Russia continues to expand its military infrastructure and submarine presence in the region, while China has described itself as a “near-Arctic state” and invested heavily in research and commercial access to northern sea routes.
According to Reuters, Arctic Sentry was originally proposed by several European NATO members in response to strained relations with the United States, particularly following President Trump’s earlier proposal for the US to acquire Greenland. Those tensions have since cooled, but the Arctic has remained a strategic priority.
Earlier, Yle reported that Russia is reactivating a Soviet-era military base in Petrozavodsk near the Finnish border to host the newly formed 44th Army Corps. Satellite imagery shows new barracks, vehicle buildup, and radar installations, with local authorities confirming Kremlin support. Despite the expansion, much of the corps remains deployed in Ukraine.
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