Germany Sends Eurofighter Jets to Support NATO’s Arctic Sentry Exercise
Speaking during an EU defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Pistorius said NATO defense ministers will review the operation and national contributions during Thursday’s sessions.
“The German Armed Forces will participate with four Eurofighter jets and the corresponding air-to-air refueling capabilities in the first stage,” he said. “What happens beyond that will be agreed upon among NATO partners tomorrow,” he added.
When questioned about whether the mission is strictly necessary or aimed at appeasing the US amid recent tensions over Denmark’s Arctic territory of Greenland, Pistorius highlighted Germany’s longstanding focus on Arctic security.
“And I have always said, since I took office, that the Arctic and the High North plays an important role for the security of Europe and North America,” he said. “Because the GIUK Gap between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom is of central importance for routes into and out of the North Atlantic, including for Russian submarines."
NATO’s Allied Command Operations launched the Arctic Sentry exercise Wednesday to strengthen the alliance’s presence in the Arctic and High North, according to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).
The exercise follows a meeting in Davos, Switzerland, between US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, where both leaders agreed that NATO should take a more active role in defending the region amid Russia’s military activity and China’s growing interest.
In recent months, Trump has also emphasized US strategic concerns over Greenland, citing security threats from Russia and China, and has threatened sanctions against European nations opposing US control of the territory.
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