An armed service member participates in a training exercise in the High North in this undated photo. NATO launched its Arctic Sentry operation on Feb. 11, 2026, amid a push by allies to increase military presence in the region to counter Russia and China. (Marcin Platek/U.S. Marine Corps)
NATO’s new beefed-up mission in the Arctic was launched Wednesday, marking the latest push to increase the alliance’s military presence in a region where Russian and Chinese activity are causing growing concerns.
The Arctic Sentry exercise builds on recent efforts to enhance security in the High North and follows a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte last month over the defense of Greenland.
The vast island in the upper reaches of the Atlantic Ocean is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a fellow NATO member.
Arctic Sentry shows the bloc’s resolve “to safeguard its members and maintain stability in one of the world’s most strategically significant and environmentally challenging areas,” Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said in a statement Wednesday.
The statement was issued by the Belgium-based Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. It did not specify what military assets would be deployed to the Arctic.
However, the effort was described as a “multi-domain activity,” meaning it would incorporate capabilities across a wide spectrum.
Trump and Rutte agreed that NATO “should collectively take more responsibility for the defense of the region considering Russia’s military activity and China’s growing interest there,” the statement said.
Arctic Sentry will be led by Joint Force Command Norfolk, which is headquartered in the U.S. state of Virginia and oversees Arctic issues for the alliance.
NATO commanders also will coordinate their efforts with U.S. Northern Command and U.S. European Command, according to the statement.
Led by U.S. Vice Adm. Doug Perry, the Norfolk command is slated to eventually be shifted to European leadership as part of an effort to have allies play a larger role in NATO command structures, which have traditionally been headed by Americans.
JFC Norfolk is responsible for the defense of NATO territory stretching from Florida to the North Pole. Among the areas of focus is protecting undersea cables, which transmit internet traffic around the world and carry trillions of dollars of financial transactions on a daily basis.
NATO officials over the years have voiced concerns about potential Russian targeting of such infrastructure to disrupt Western life.
The launch of Arctic Sentry also comes as allies prepare for major military drills in the region.
In March, about 3,000 Marines will be joined by roughly 25,000 personnel from a dozen countries for Cold Response in Norway.
U.S. special operations troops, P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, F-35A Lightning II fighters and other aircraft are among the American military assets participating in the drills.
