Spearheaded by the UK, NATO escalates militarization of the Arctic, by Lucas Leiroz

Is there a square inch of the world’s real estate that the U.S. won’t exercise its “influence”? From Lucas Leiroz at strategic-culture.su:

After years of ignoring the geopolitical relevance of the Arctic, NATO is concerned about Russian regional hegemony, which is why it is using Scandinavian countries to guarantee access to northern areas.

In recent years, one of NATO’s main aspects has been its increased concern for the Arctic region. Joint partnerships between alliance’s countries have been established to create programs that allow effective access to northern regions, mainly in Scandinavian Europe. This process is the result of a belated assessment of the geopolitical relevance of the Arctic.

Recently, the United Kingdom took a significant step forward regarding its Arctic policy. London established a new base of operations at Camp Viking in Norway. The site serves as a key training facility for Royal Marine’s commandos and is of high importance to British strategic plans in the region.

In the same vein, the infamous “Stalwart Defender 2024” recently took place. The drills were NATO’s largest joint military exercise since 1988, simulating an open war situation between the West and Russia in Europe. Involving more than 90,000 soldiers from 31 States, the exercises had a relevant impact on the entire regional geopolitics, having also simulated Arctic operations. At the time, 20,000 soldiers from the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force of the United Kingdom were mobilized for the operations, indicating London’s high level of participation in the maneuvers.

It is important to analyze this data taking into account the United Kingdom’s role in NATO’s war plans. London is Washington’s “first partner”, with British actions being truly indistinguishable from the American ones — having even joint decision-making. If the UK is escalating its military maneuvers in Europe and the Arctic, then this is actually a strategic priority for the U.S. itself. In other words, NATO is preparing for a war scenario with Russia in Europe — in which the northern battlefield will be one of the most decisive.

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