"Arctic Sentry underscores the alliance's commitment to safeguard its members and maintain stability in one of the world's most strategically significant and environmentally challenging areas," said US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
NATO said the "multi-domain activity" would initially pull together work already being carried out by alliance members in the region such as upcoming exercises by Norway and Denmark.
Denmark's defence minister said his country would contribute "substantially" to the newly-launched NATO mission, and Germany said it would send an initial four eurofighter jets to take part.
Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre (833-mile) border with Russia, hailed the NATO initiative as strengthening security in the Arctic.
But it remained unclear whether many additional military capabilities would be deployed to the region under the new mission.
"What is really new about it is that for the first time now, we will bring everything we do in the Arctic together under one command," NATO chief Mark Rutte said ahead of a meeting of alliance defence ministers.
"We will also be able to assess what gaps there are, which we have to fill and of course we will fill them."
Trump's threats against Greenland last month -- which he based on an alleged threat by Russia and China in the Arctic -- plunged the transatlantic alliance into its deepest crisis in years.
- Trump's 'framework' -
The unpredictable US leader backed off his vow to take control of Denmark's autonomous Arctic territory after saying he had struck a "framework" deal with Rutte to ensure greater American influence.
"The two leaders agreed that NATO should collectively take more responsibility for the defence of the region considering Russia's military activity and China's growing interest there," NATO said in a statement.
Denmark and Greenland have meanwhile kicked off talks with the US over the territory and are expected to renegotiate a 1951 treaty governing American troop deployments on the island.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that NATO countries back having a "permanent presence" in the Arctic, including around Greenland, as part of efforts to step up security.
The launch of Arctic Sentry comes after NATO last year deployed emergency missions in the Baltic Sea and along its eastern flank to try to shore up protection against Moscow.
Denmark pledges to 'substantially' contribute to Arctic NATO mission
Copenhagen (AFP) Feb 11, 2026 -
Denmark said Wednesday that it would "substantially" contribute to a newly launched NATO mission in the Arctic aimed at placating US President Donald Trump, who covets the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.
"We will substantially contribute, and we will maintain momentum to ensure that the Arctic is reflected in NATO's plans and exercise activities in the long term," Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said in a statement, noting that the details of the support would be determined in coordination with NATO allies.
NATO has said the Arctic Sentry mission will initially pull together undertakings already being carried out by its members in the region, such as exercises by Norway and Denmark.
It remained unclear whether the new mission would involve more military capabilities being sent to the region.
"When the Danish-led exercise Arctic Endurance is integrated into NATO's Arctic Sentry going forward, it will significantly strengthen NATO's northern flank," Danish defence chief Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard said.
Meanwhile Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre (833-mile) border with Russia, hailed the NATO initiative as strengthening security in the Arctic, its Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
"It is essential that NATO has strong deterrence and defence in the Arctic and is able to respond in particular to the threat posed by Russia," the ministry said in a statement, adding that China was also seeking to "strengthen its role in the Arctic".
Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen told AFP Tuesday that he expected "a tough discussion inside NATO" on which countries would be in involved in safeguarding the Arctic and to what extent.
UK to double troops in Norway to defend against 'rising' Russian threat
London (AFP) Feb 11, 2026 -
Britain announced Wednesday it will boost its troops stationed in Norway and play a "vital" role in a NATO Arctic mission in face of "rising Russian threats".
The UK's decision to double its troops in Norway from 1,000 to 2,000 in the next three years comes as the US was set to relinquish two top regional NATO command posts to press allies to take greater responsibility for their defence.
"Arctic and High North security will be strengthened against rising Russian threats as Britain steps up its presence in the region," the UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
Defence Secretary John Healey is set to confirm on a visit to a UK military site in northern Norway that British forces will be involved in NATO's Arctic Sentry mission to bolster security in the region.
European members of the transatlantic alliance have scrambled to boost defences in the region after US President Donald Trump used alleged threats from Russia and China to justify his repeated threats to seize Greenland.
"Demands on defence are rising, and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War," Healey said in a statement.
Diplomats confirmed over the weekend that Washington would hand over leadership of its Norfolk command, focusing on the alliance's north, to Britain.
The UK and Norway last December signed a new defence pact that would see their navies jointly operate a warship fleet to "hunt Russian submarines" in the North Atlantic.
That agreement aimed to protect critical undersea infrastructure such as communications cables, which Western officials say are increasingly under threat from Moscow.
Oslo also announced last year the purchase of at least five Type-26 frigates from Britain for �10 billion ($13 billion).
In 2023, the UK opened a new military base called Camp Viking in the far north of Norway, which serves as a hub for Britain's Royal Marines.
Britain is planning to lead a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) of northern European and Baltic nations in "major military activity" in September.
The exercise called "Lion Protector" will see "air, land, and naval forces from JEF nations train to protect critical national infrastructure from attacks and sabotage."
A cross-party delegation of United States senators visited Greenland on Monday to "rebuild the trust" shattered by Trump's threats to annex the Danish territory, the lawmakers said.
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