Estonia backs NATO's Arctic Sentry mission to support US

NATO’s newly launched military mission, Arctic Sentry, represents a necessary measure in response to US expectations, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels.

Addressing the launch, Pevkur described the mission as a significant step, underlining that the Alliance must act when one ally signals the need for collective security in a specific region. “When one ally feels that other allies should contribute to the security of a specific region, we must do it. That is why Estonia also declared that we are ready to support Arctic security,” he stressed.

The minister further noted that the initiative is designed to signal solidarity with the United States: “If they feel threatened, we stand with them.”

The remarks come in the wake of US discussions in January regarding the potential annexation of Greenland from Denmark, citing Arctic security concerns. Although tensions have eased since, NATO allies agreed to increase their attention to the region.

Pevkur also emphasized Estonia’s long-standing support for US-led security initiatives: “This was the case after September 11, and many Estonian soldiers died on missions initiated at the request of the US. For us, it is important to stand together.”

He concluded by stressing that the Arctic mission would not divert resources from NATO’s other priorities, including Ukraine and the alliance’s eastern flank. “I am very glad it was officially launched yesterday. But we must also understand that it does not divert attention from Ukraine and the eastern flank.”

By Vafa Guliyeva