NATO announced a new military effort to boost its defensive capabilities on Wednesday in the Arctic region after its leader came to an understanding with President Donald Trump last month.
The series of military exercises under the newly announced “Arctic Sentry” label includes Denmark’s Arctic Endurance and Norway’s Cold Response drills. The effort is intended to thwart growing Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
“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,” U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who serves as Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said in a statement. “It will leverage NATO’s strength to protect our territory and ensure the Arctic and High North remains secure.”
The Arctic, which includes Greenland, has been a point of concern for Trump as he aims to secure U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere and position the nation against foreign adversaries.
The topic was raised during Trump’s January meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The two agreed that NATO should take more responsibility for the defense of its own territory.
The meeting also helped Trump move past his inflammatory rhetoric about taking over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory controlled by Denmark. Since then, he has been less overt in his language about forcibly acquiring the island.
A deal between the United States and European nations over Greenland is in the works, although Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said no solution has been reached yet.
Arctic Sentry is being coordinated by a NATO base in Norfolk, Virginia. Grynkewich called Joint Force Command Norfolk the “bridge between North America and Europe” that defends the “strategic approaches between the two continents and much more.”
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The announcement comes after the United Kingdom announced it will increase its number of troops deployed in Norway from 1,000 to 2,000 over the next three years. Britain is concerned about Russia’s influence in the region amid its war with Ukraine.
France, Germany, and Denmark have also said they will be involved in providing Arctic security, but it’s unclear how many troops from each nation will be deployed.