By Khaisan @Adobe Stock
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called on the alliance to take a stronger role in the Arctic in response to increasing Russian military activity in the region, reports Sanne Wass of Bloomberg. Citing Russia’s buildup of air bases and Arctic capabilities, Rasmussen urged NATO to develop a formal Arctic strategy and set concrete defense targets to enhance deterrence. His remarks come as NATO prepares to finalize new defense spending goals at a June summit. With most Arctic nations now under NATO’s collective defense umbrella, Rasmussen emphasized the need for improved surveillance and readiness in the region. Wass writes:
NATO must take a stronger role in the Arctic to deter increasing Russian activity, according to the alliance’s former secretary general.
“Russia has started re-arming in the Arctic region,” said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who led the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for five years until 2014 and previously served as Denmark’s prime minister. That includes Russia opening air bases and other military installations and making “significant” investments in Arctic capabilities, he said.
“We have to take this seriously,” Fogh Rasmussen said in an interview Monday ahead of the annual Copenhagen Democracy Summit. […]
Security in the Arctic is a growing concern among key members of NATO. President Donald Trump has cited US and international security as the reason he wants to acquire Greenland from Denmark, criticizing the Nordic country for underinvesting in defense on the island. […]
Denmark has recently committed to boosting military investment in Greenland, though lawmakers are awaiting NATO’s capability goals before finalizing plans, which may include naval vessels tailored for Arctic operations. […]
Read more here.
Also, read Russia and China Tighten Grip on Arctic: A Warning to the West, Rebuilding Together: U.S.-Ukraine Forge Economic Future, Is an Arctic War Coming?, Russia’s Arctic UAVs: A Chilling Military Advantage, The Arctic Buildup: A New Cold War, & Frozen Gold: Greenland’s Riches and the Battle for Control
