Russia, China not in Arctic for ‘peaceful reason,’ top US commander says

Russia and China are increasing their presence within the Arctic for strategic – not scientific – causes, a senior US commander stated.

“It’s not for peaceable causes,” Normal Alexus Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, stated at a convention in Sweden on Sunday.

“They do not research the seals and the polar bears,” he continued. “They’re doing bathymetric surveys and attempting to determine how one can counter NATO capabilities at and below the ocean. In order that’s one thing that would develop in a short time, and we’ve to concentrate on that and be prepared for that.”

A bathymetric survey refers back to the mapping of the ocean flooring, utilizing sonar and different sensors to measure underwater depth and terrain. The surveys can assist undersea navigation, establish underwater chokepoints and map routes for undersea cables or sensors.

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The US controls Pituffik Area Base in Greenland. (U.S. Area Drive photograph by Senior Airman Kaitlin Castillo)

He stated Russia and China are more and more conducting joint patrols north of Alaska and close to Canada, however he sees no rapid menace, “partly as a result of Russia is so involved about Ukraine.”

President Donald Trump has insisted that the US should take management of Greenland for nationwide safety causes, citing its strategic location between North America and Europe and its proximity to rising Arctic transport lanes and army transit corridors.

Greenland, an autonomous area of Denmark, lies alongside key sea and air routes that U.S. and NATO officers take into account more and more necessary as melting ice opens entry to the Arctic Ocean. The island additionally hosts a significant U.S. army set up at Pituffik Area Base, which performs a task in missile warning, area surveillance and Arctic operations.

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Normal Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, warned that Russia and China will not be within the Arctic for “peaceable” causes. (TT Information Company/Henrik Montgomery through Reuters)

Danish troops apply throughout a army train in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, in September 2025. President Donald Trump has insisted that the US should take management of Greenland for nationwide safety causes. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

Grynkewich added that Russia, China and North Korea are more and more working collectively to oppose the West. In Ukraine, China funds the conflict effort, Iran provides weapons and North Korea gives manpower.

“Within the Arctic and the Far North we see the same pattern,” Grynkewich stated. “Russian and Chinese language ships are more and more conducting joint patrols. Chinese language icebreakers and analysis ships are in Arctic waters, and their analysis will not be for peaceable functions. It’s to achieve army benefit.”

NATO has stepped up its deterrent posture as safety challenges develop within the Arctic and below the ocean, Grynkewich stated, citing new efforts to guard important infrastructure and enhance allied coordination.

He stated NATO’s Joint Drive Command Norfolk, Virginia, not too long ago introduced all alliance operations within the Arctic below one command, a transfer aimed toward strengthening defenses throughout Europe, the Excessive North and key approaches to North America.

The alliance can be increasing surveillance within the Arctic, bettering infrastructure and logistics and rising the presence of armed forces educated to function in excessive circumstances, together with in Sweden.

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With most Arctic nations now a part of NATO, Grynkewich says the alliance is properly positioned to safe the area.

“Seven of the eight Arctic nations are a part of the alliance,” he stated. “The opposite is Russia.”