Sweden deploys Gripen jets for NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission

Sweden will deploy JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft to patrol areas around Iceland and Greenland as part of NATO’s newly launched Arctic Sentry mission, the government confirmed.

The operation was announced by NATO a day earlier and is aimed at reinforcing the Alliance’s presence in the Arctic. The initiative comes amid heightened tensions within NATO following US President Donald Trump’s push for the United States to acquire Greenland, a move that has stirred debate among member states, CNBC reports.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sweden’s initial contribution would focus on air patrols in the North Atlantic region.

“This strengthens deterrence, protects our common interests, and contributes to stability in a region that is crucial for Europe and transatlantic cooperation,” Kristersson said in a statement.

“Sweden will initially contribute to Arctic Sentry with JAS 39 Gripen aircraft in the area around Iceland and Greenland,” he added.

NATO said the Arctic Sentry mission is designed to enhance security and coordination among European allies in the strategically significant Arctic region. Sweden, which joined NATO in 2024 in a historic shift from its long-standing policy of military non-alignment, has since stepped up its participation in Alliance operations.

NATO previously inaugurated the Arctic Sentry mission to reinforce its military footprint across the High North, in fulfillment of commitments made to US President Donald Trump, who had underscored the region’s strategic vulnerability. The initiative is designed to synchronize and enhance the expanding military posture of European NATO allies in the Arctic, encompassing coordinated deployments and exercises similar to Denmark’s “Arctic Endurance drills in Greenland” operation.

By Vafa Guliyeva