Stoltenberg visits COLD RESPONSE

NATO chief emphasises the importance of security in the Arctic in the face of renewed Russian aggression

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, whose term of office has just been extended, has spoken out on the strategic importance of the northern flank amid NATO's biennial Cold Response exercise in Norway. Speaking in Evenes, Norway, he said that NATO must maintain a robust presence in the Arctic to avoid becoming vulnerable if Russia uses old Soviet territories to test new weapons systems in the far north.

This year's record attendance of around 30,000 participants from 27 countries also includes some 3,000 US Marines and Navy personnel. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has added to the realism of the mammoth exercise, and Stoltenberg made Moscow a recurring theme.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks to troops in Bardufoss, Norway, on 25 March 2022 during Cold Response. https://www.stripes.com/

"We cannot afford a security vacuum in the far north," he said. "It could fuel Russian ambitions, expose NATO and harbour the risk of misjudgements and misunderstandings." Stoltenberg described the invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February, as a "turning point" and explained why the High North is an "area of vital importance" for all NATO countries. In addition, Stoltenberg said that the number of US and other NATO forces in Europe is currently sufficient to protect against immediate aggression from Russia. Thousands of US troops have been deployed to the continent in recent weeks to support NATO's eastern flank. On Wednesday, the commander of the US Marine Corps, General David Berger, said it was too early to say whether additional Marines would be deployed to Europe to respond to growing security concerns.

Norway's traditionally neutral neighbours Sweden and Finland have announced that they are considering NATO membership following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has threatened retaliatory measures if they do so. The two Nordic countries already maintain close relations with the alliance and take part in the Cold Response exercise. Stoltenberg did not comment on the question of whether NATO would also come to their aid in the event of a future attack.

Source: Stars and Stripes