NATO chief warns about Russia's Arctic military build-up on Canada visit

By Euronews • Updated: 27/08/2022 -

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say goodbye at 4 Wing Cold Lake air base in Cold Lake Alta,. - Copyright AP Pho

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called for more investment in the Arctic as Moscow reopens hundreds of soviet-era military sites.

Stoltenberg warning came while he was visiting Canada’s Arctic region - the first time a NATO security general has done so in the history of the alliance.

During the visit, Stoltenberg also stressed that the shortest route for Russian missiles and bombers to reach North America would be through the North Pole.

"Russia has set up a new Arctic Command. It has opened hundreds of new and former Soviet-era Arctic military sites, including airfields and deep water ports. Russia is also using the region as a testbed for many of its new and novel weapons systems,” Stoltenberg said.

NATO’s secretary-General also noted that after Finland and Sweden join the alliance, seven of the eight Arctic countries will be NATO members, except only Russia.

Before this visit, Canada has been wary of a NATO presence in its Arctic region.

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, noted that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has changed the geopolitical situation.

"It is important that we all recognise the shifting geopolitical realities that the world is now facing and across the NATO alliance countries are investing more in the ability to secure NATO territory including across the Arctic," Trudeau said.

Canada has also been previously criticised for not spending enough on its military as a NATO member. But in June, it announced a €3.8 billion investment in modernizing its NORAD facilities.

NORAD, or the North American Aerospace Defense Command, is a joint venture with Washington to detect incoming Russian aircraft or missiles.

Stoltenberg and Trudeau also said climate change is creating new security challenges in the arctic, as melting ice is making the area more accessible to militaries.

And Stoltenberg expressed concerns about cooperation between Beijing and Moscow for shipping and resources exploration in the Arctic.

China is also planning to construct the world's largest icebreaker fleet.

NATO announces increased presence in the Arctic

Photo: AP Photo / Virginia May


POSTED BY: NORWAY TODAY STAFF

28. AUGUST 2022

NATO and the US signal that they will be more active in the Arctic in light of Russia increasing its military activity in the country’s Arctic regions.

“NATO must increase its presence in the Arctic,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

He adds that Russia is in the process of reopening Soviet-era military bases in the country’s own Arctic regions and that Moscow is deploying new and modern weapons, including hypersonic missiles, there.

China has also shown increasing interest in the region, according to Stoltenberg.

On Friday, the US State Department announced that it would appoint a special ambassador for the Arctic for the first time.

The plan, which must be approved by the Senate, is intended to advance “American interests and cooperation with allies and partners in the Arctic,” a statement from Washington said.

The Arctic region includes areas belonging to Russia, the USA, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.