Germany to Deploy Navy to Arctic Amid Rising Tensions with Russia
Germany has announced plans to increase its military presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic, responding to growing concerns over Russian militarization in the region.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to The Telegraph.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed on Monday that the German navy will send patrol vessels northward, marking a historic shift in Berlin’s defence posture.
“Maritime threats are increasing… Russia is militarising the Arctic. We are seeing an increasing activity of Russian submarines operating in that area,” Pistorius stated during a joint press conference in Copenhagen. “As early as this year, Germany will show its presence in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.”
The move signals a deepening commitment by Berlin to play a more assertive role in European and global security, following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to naval patrols, Germany will join the Canadian-led Arctic military exercise “Operation Nanook” and make its first-ever naval port call in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
The Arctic, long viewed as a strategic frontier, has gained new urgency as melting ice unlocks potential trade routes and resource reserves.
Russia has dramatically expanded its regional footprint, bolstering its fleet of icebreakers and military infrastructure.
Germany’s response is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s broader effort to redefine the country’s defence doctrine.
His government has pledged to raise military spending to 5% of GDP, well above NATO’s 2% benchmark, and has proposed a €500 billion modernization package for national infrastructure, which would also serve NATO in the event of conflict.
Merz has also not ruled out reinstating conscription to address manpower shortages in the Bundeswehr, aiming to turn Germany’s armed forces into the strongest conventional military in Europe.
Earlier this year, Denmark announced a 14.6 billion kroner (€2 billion) investment in Arctic defence, including expanded cooperation with Greenland and the Faroe Islands – both autonomous territories under Danish sovereignty.
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