The Bundeswehr (German armed forces) will “show its presence” in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions with patrol vessels “as early as this year,” the country’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at a press conference in Copenhagen.
“Maritime threats are increasing … Russia is militarising the Arctic. We are seeing an increasing activity of Russian submarines operating in that area.”
Submarines, patrol aircraft and frigates will be deployed to show Berlin’s commitment to the region, which are part of Germany’s wider goal of playing a much larger role in response to the 2022 full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The announcement comes as Russia continues to build up its forces in the Arctic, where the melting of ice caps has opened up new shipping routes and access to raw materials.
Moscow is also expanding its fleet of icebreaker ships and cargo vessels, with plans to build at least five new icebreakers.