NATO Secretary General Highlights Sweden’s Role in Defending the Arctic

The strategic importance of the Arctic is only growing, according to NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, American General Alexus Grynkewich.

And Sweden plays an important role there.

‘Military cooperation in this region has never been stronger,’ says Alexus Grynkewich at Folk och Försvar (People and Defence).

NATO is working on several fronts to strengthen its presence in the north, including better surveillance, infrastructure and logistics, but also through adapted forces.

‘Many of them are here in Sweden,’ says Grynkewich.

He describes, among other things, how Russian and Chinese ships have become more active in the Arctic. But he sees no immediate threat to NATO territory.

‘No, I don’t think there is an immediate threat right now, partly because Russia is so preoccupied with Ukraine,’ he says.

He welcomes the fact that NATO countries decided at the recent summit in The Hague to increase their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, of which 3.5 per cent will be spent on military expenditure. For the first time, money is not a problem for the alliance, he says.

‘But money alone is not a deterrent; defence equipment, weapons and ammunition need to be delivered. That is a major challenge,’ he says.

Grynkewich, who is NATO’s top military commander in Europe, however, avoids questions about the US’s new national security strategy and President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland. He does not want to get involved in politics.