Sweden deploys fighter jets as NATO expands Arctic mission

07:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Sweden deploys fighter jets as NATO expands Arctic mission

NATO has launched a new operation aimed at strengthening its military footprint in the Arctic and High North, with Sweden announcing the deployment of fighter jets as part of the expanded mission known as Arctic Sentry.

The alliance formally introduced Arctic Sentry on February 11, 2026, describing it as a multi-domain effort designed to bolster collective defense in a region of growing strategic importance. The initiative follows weeks of internal tensions within NATO after US President Donald Trump renewed calls for the United States to acquire Greenland from Denmark, another member of the alliance.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte unveiled the mission at a press conference in Brussels ahead of a meeting of allied defense ministers on February 12. He said the decision reflects mounting concerns over Russia’s military activity in the Arctic and China’s increasing interest in the region.

According to NATO, Arctic Sentry will coordinate existing national exercises under an integrated command structure led by Joint Force Command Norfolk. Among the operations to be aligned under NATO command are Denmark’s Arctic Endurance exercise and Norway’s Cold Response drills.

Several European allies have detailed their contributions. Sweden will deploy JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft to patrol areas around Iceland and Greenland, the Swedish government said. Germany will contribute four Eurofighter jets along with air-to-air refueling capabilities, a commitment confirmed by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius during a meeting of European Union defense ministers in Brussels.

The United Kingdom announced a significant expansion of its presence in the region. Defense Secretary John Healey said Britain will double the number of troops stationed in Norway from 1,000 to 2,000 over the next three years. London will also send 1,500 Royal Marine commandos to participate in the Cold Response exercise in Norway in March.

Healey described Russia as the most serious security threat to the Arctic and High North since the Cold War, citing Moscow’s efforts to reopen former Soviet-era military bases across the region.

The initiative gained momentum after a meeting between Trump and Rutte in January in Davos, Switzerland. During that encounter, both leaders agreed that NATO should assume a more active role in Arctic defense. The talks took place amid heightened tensions over Trump’s stated ambition to bring Greenland under US control, a move he framed as a national security priority.

Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark and other European countries that opposed his position but withdrew those threats following the discussions in Davos. A working group involving the United States, Denmark and Greenland was subsequently established to address the island’s future.

At the Brussels gathering, Rutte stressed that the Arctic requires a collective security approach as melting ice opens new maritime routes and increases geopolitical competition. He warned of a tangible threat in the region and underscored the need to safeguard NATO territory.

Pistorius rejected suggestions that Arctic Sentry was primarily designed to placate Washington. In remarks to German broadcaster ZDF, he said the mission was not focused on Greenland specifically but rather on demonstrating NATO’s presence and commitment to security across the Arctic.