NATO's Arctic Strategy: Nordic Nations Leverage U.S. Greenland Interest to Counter Russian Military Buildup
For the five Nordic countries, the recent U.S. focus on Greenland represents a strategic opportunity to redirect geopolitical discussions toward what they consider the most pressing security threat: Russia's extensive military buildup in the Arctic region. Norway's defense minister, Tore Sandvik, emphasizes this point by highlighting a map that shows the world from an Arctic perspective, pointing directly to Russia's Kola Peninsula.
The Russian Military Presence in the Arctic
Russia controls approximately half of the Arctic's landmass and waters, giving it the largest footprint among the eight countries with Arctic presence, which includes the United States, Canada, and the five Nordic nations. Following the end of the Cold War, most Arctic states, including Russia, reduced their military presence, closing numerous bases. However, Russia began revitalizing its Arctic military and economic infrastructure much earlier than Western powers, starting in the 2000s under President Vladimir Putin's leadership.
Today, Moscow maintains more than 40 military facilities along the Arctic coast, including military bases, airfields, radar stations, and ports. The Arctic plays a critical role in Russia's nuclear doctrine, housing the Northern Fleet based in Severomorsk on the Kola Peninsula. This fleet operates six of Russia's twelve nuclear-armed submarines, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
"The Northern Fleet, and in particular its submarines, is a pillar of Russia's strategic deterrence. Because of its importance, the fleet is still being modernized," said Ondrej Ditrych, senior Russia analyst at the European Union Institute for Security Studies.
The Strategic Importance of Greenland and the Arctic
Sandvik points out that the shortest flight path for projectiles launched from Russia's Kola Peninsula toward major U.S. cities on both coasts passes over the Arctic, near the North Pole and Greenland. "An intercontinental ballistic missile comes down with a speed of seven km per second, it takes 18 minutes from launch until it reaches a major U.S. city," he explained. This underscores why Arctic security is fundamentally about homeland defense for NATO members, including the United States, London, Paris, and Berlin.
U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive pursuit of Greenland in the past year has shifted the alliance's focus toward Arctic security, a subject Nordic countries have advocated for decades. By agreeing to a "framework" deal on Greenland with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump has inadvertently aligned with Nordic priorities.
"NATO must increase its engagement in the Arctic," asserted Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's prime minister. "Defence and security in the Arctic is a matter for the entire alliance."
Nordic Nations' Geopolitical Strategy
The Nordic countries—all Arctic states—view this development as a chance to refocus the geopolitical discussion on the threat emanating from Russia. They argue that while the U.S. and other Western powers reduced their Arctic presence post-Cold War, Russia has steadily expanded its military capabilities, creating a significant imbalance that NATO must address.
Key points in their strategy include:
- Highlighting Russia's nuclear arsenal on the Kola Peninsula as a direct threat to NATO territories.
- Emphasizing the strategic importance of Greenland and the Arctic for missile defense systems.
- Advocating for increased NATO investments in Arctic infrastructure and surveillance.
- Promoting international cooperation to monitor and counter Russian military activities in the region.
As NATO grapples with evolving security challenges, the Arctic emerges as a critical frontier where geopolitical tensions are escalating. The Nordic nations' push for a stronger alliance presence in the Arctic reflects broader concerns about regional stability and the need for a coordinated response to Russia's military advancements.
