Russia has affirmed it will defend its interests in the region
A spokesperson for the U.S.-led military alliance has announced that NATO plans to expand its military presence in the Arctic near Greenland.
The move is reportedly a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempt to annex the Danish autonomous territory, which he claims is under threat from Russia and China.
Russia has stated it has no stake in the Greenland dispute but emphasized it will defend its interests in the broader Arctic.
“Planning work is underway for increased NATO activity dubbed ‘Arctic Sentry,’” Martin O’Donnell, a spokesperson for the bloc’s top European military command, told reporters Tuesday, according to multiple outlets. The exercise will “further bolster NATO’s posture in the Arctic and High North,” he said.
Der Spiegel reports the mission idea emerged as a way to appease Trump after his claims that Russia and China could take the island.
Both Moscow and Beijing have dismissed the accusations; China argues the U.S. is merely using the claims as a pretext for an Arctic military buildup.
EU officials have also rejected Trump’s claim. Last week, EU Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas noted there was no evidence “foreign adversaries” were targeting Greenland.
Russia already has extensive access to the region, owning more than half of the global Arctic coastline. It also operates the world’s largest icebreaker fleet to support regional development and maintain shipping along the Northern Sea Route.
However, Western governments are increasingly relying on “illegitimate sanctions aimed at hampering Russian Arctic development” and favoring the “use of force” to secure their interests, Russian Foreign Ministry official Vladislav Maslennikov has said.
Russia “will continue to firmly defend its position in the region,” and will retaliate against any attempts to undermine its national interests in the Arctic, “especially regarding security,” he told RIA in an interview published Wednesday.