NATO to increase military efforts in the Arctic and Greenland

The Arctic - including Greenland - must be strengthened militarily. This was agreed upon by the Arctic NATO countries at a meeting on Friday.

Military activities and surveillance must be strengthened, and there must also be more exercises.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Raw Materials of the Republic of Greenland, Múte Bourup Egede (IA), participated in the meeting and negotiations with the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the United States.

- NATO allies agree to strengthen cooperation to create a basis for sustainable and secure development in the future, Múte Bourup Egede tells Sermitsiaq.

Soldiers become more visible

Continuous and intensified Arctic military exercises that we have seen in recent years are part of an agreement between the foreign ministers.

- This is an important milestone to strengthen the continuity we have seen in recent years and thus create a solid foundation for the development of Arctic activities, says Múte Bourup Egede.

No concrete conversation with US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also participated in the meeting, but the relationship between Greenland, Denmark and the US was not on the agenda, explains naalakkersuisoq.

- The dialogue between the three countries was not discussed during this meeting. The negotiations and work of the three countries continue and are taking place in a high-level working group. We should not work on double tracks, says naalakkersuisoq.

Russia's military buildup in the Arctic and China's increasing interest in the region are part of the reasons for strengthening defense in the Arctic, NATO members write in a joint statement.