NATO Launches “Arctic Sentry” Mission to Counter Russian Military Buildup in the High North

NATO countries are planning to strengthen their military presence in the Arctic amid growing Russian activity and aggression in the region. The new mission, dubbed “Arctic Sentry,” envisages an increase in troop numbers in the parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland located above the Arctic Circle, The New York Times reported on February 11.

According to officials and experts, the initiative is aimed at bolstering security in the Arctic, which is gaining increasing strategic importance. NATO is expected to step up maritime patrols in the Norwegian Sea and in the waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.

The region may also serve as a testing ground for newly developed surveillance drones to assess how well they withstand extreme weather conditions.

“The Arctic has obviously risen in priority for the alliance, and the alliance is responding,” US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told reporters.

The United Kingdom is set to play a key role in the mission. During a visit to Norway, Defense Secretary John Healey said London plans to double the number of British troops stationed there to 2,000 over the next three years, according to Reuters.

“Demands on defense are rising, and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War,” Healey said. “We see [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin rapidly re-establishing military presence in the region, including reopening old Cold War bases.”

Read more

Category

War in Ukraine

How Russia Is Preparing for War in the Arctic

Mar 11, 2025 18:31

According to The New York Times, citing the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) data, Russia has conducted at least 33 military exercises in the Arctic since early January 2025, about half of them for training purposes. Much of Russia’s military activity is concentrated on the Kola Peninsula, where it maintains nuclear-capable submarines. Moscow protects these assets with coastal, naval, and air patrols, including from the headquarters of Russia’s Northern Fleet in Murmansk.

One of NATO’s main concerns is the possibility that Russia could deploy a nuclear-capable submarine through the Norwegian Sea into the broader Atlantic.

“Then it’s game over,” said Minna Alander, an Arctic and defense expert at the Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies. “It’s really hard to find a submarine in the Atlantic Ocean.”

Western officials also warn that Russia has engaged in evasive “cat-and-mouse game,” using shadow fleets to smuggle sanctioned oil and allegedly sabotaging critical infrastructure, including energy pipelines and undersea communication cables.

Earlier, Norway’s chief of defense said the country cannot dismiss the risk of a potential Russian ground operation in the Arctic aimed at securing Moscow’s nuclear capabilities.

Support our frontline reporters

We report from the front lines to show the reality of war. Your support helps us stay there and tell the stories that matter.

DONATE NOW