Arctic Sentry Mission | 12 Feb 2026

Source: TH 

NATO  announced the launch of a mission, called "Arctic Sentry," to bolster its presence in the Arctic. 

• About: “Arctic Sentry” is a multi-domain mission to strengthen collective defence, coordination and stability in the strategically sensitive Arctic region.  
• Objective: The new mission will leverage NATO’s collective strength to protect its territory and ensure that the Arctic and the High North, a term referring to the Arctic Circle and its adjoining northernmost regions, remain secure. 
• Feature: It aims to enhance surveillance and security in the region, modelled on existing NATO initiatives such as Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry. 
• Military Exercises & Preparedness: The mission includes major exercises such as Exercise Cold Response and the UK-led Lion Protector, aimed at training allied forces for Arctic operations and strengthening the defence of critical infrastructure,  and counter-sabotage threats across Norway, Iceland and the Danish Straits. 

Arctic Region 

• The Arctic lies north of the Arctic Circle (66°34′ N), centred on the North Pole, and includes the Arctic Ocean and parts of eight countries, Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA, forming the Arctic Council.  
• It possesses significant reserves of minerals and rare earth elements and is increasingly geopolitically significant owing to emerging sea routes, resource potential, and its strategic closeness to major powers.