The mission was planned after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte seemingly managed to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to back away from threats to seize Greenland by force during their January meeting in Davos.
In Davos, Trump said he would not take Greenland by military force and agreed with Rutte that NATO should play a larger role in Arctic security.
Reuters said Arctic Sentry will emphasize using existing NATO resources more efficiently rather than a major force buildup. NATO’s Joint Force Command in Norfolk, Virginia, will lead the mission.
“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,” the report quotes Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
The New York Times separately reported that increased Russian activity also spurred the planning of the mission. Since early January 2025, Russia has conducted at least 33 military maneuvers in the Arctic, roughly half of them training exercises, the newspaper said.
Arctic Sentry calls for increasing troop presence in the
Nordkap area, which covers parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland inside the
Arctic Circle.