NATO Allies Plan Arctic Maritime Mission Without US
European NATO allies and Canada plan a maritime mission in the North Atlantic and Arctic without US participation amid tensions over Greenland.
European NATO allies and Canada are preparing a new maritime mission to strengthen security in the North Atlantic and the Arctic, according to the Spanish newspaper Pais. The initiative is expected to move forward without US participation.
The newspaper reported that a group of 12 countries, likely including Spain, is working on a mission aimed at reinforcing maritime security in the North Atlantic and Arctic region.
Pais linked the new NATO member initiative to US President Donald Trump’s statements on Greenland. According to the outlet, ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump again said Greenland should be under US control rather than Danish control. He also threatened to withdraw American troops from Europe.
The planned mission is expected to include Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Britain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy and Iceland.
European allies are also preparing other defense initiatives, including the development of missiles capable of striking targets at long range.
Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for what he sees as an insufficient contribution to NATO’s defense capability. In April, The Telegraph reported that the US president had seriously considered the possibility of withdrawing the United States from the alliance after NATO members refused to support Washington in the war against Tehran.