General Alexus Grynkewich, serving as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and a U.S. Air Force general, highlighted on Thursday the expanding cooperative efforts of China and Russia in the Arctic sector. He pointed out that this cooperation has manifested increasingly through combined naval patrols and shared air domain operations involving long-range bomber flights.
Addressing the press, Grynkewich noted, "Over recent years, we've observed not only enhanced joint maritime patrols but also coordinated long-range bomber missions in airspace, reflecting a significant strategic partnership between China and Russia in the Arctic." He underscored that NATO is actively exploring approaches to fortify its operational posture and the collective capabilities of member states in the high-latitude environment of the Arctic.
This growing alliance between China and Russia has caught NATO’s attention amidst ongoing deliberations concerning a potential arrangement related to Greenland. Just a day prior, U.S. President Donald Trump relented on previous threats to impose tariffs as leverage to negotiate possession of the Danish-administered territory. He also dismissed any notion of using military action for acquisition, intimating that a resolution may be forthcoming.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of NATO's Military Committee, affirmed that the alliance is currently awaiting official guidance on the Greenland matter before progressing further.
Despite these developments, NATO has yet to initiate concrete plans for any Arctic-specific missions. According to Grynkewich, the alliance continues to assess strategies to reinforce its role and readiness in this strategically oriented region, reflecting its concern over evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic.