NATO is closely monitoring the deepening military coordination between Russia and China in the Arctic, viewing it as a notable shift in the region’s security landscape. This was stated by General Alexus Grinkevich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

According to Grinkevich, the alliance sees the growing Russian-Chinese partnership in the Arctic as one of the more concerning recent developments. He made clear that this trend requires sustained attention from NATO, given its potential implications for regional stability.

The general noted that the strengthening of ties between Moscow and Beijing has not emerged overnight. NATO, he said, has been observing this process for several years. It is evident at sea, where joint naval patrols have become more frequent, and in the air, where coordinated activity involving strategic aviation — including long-range bombers — has been recorded. Grinkevich emphasized that both the scale and intensity of these joint actions continue to rise gradually.

At the same time, he stressed that NATO has not begun planning a dedicated Arctic operation comparable to missions such as Baltic Sentry or Eastern Guardian. He explained that he has not received any formal directives on this matter and that no official discussions on launching a similar format of activity in the Arctic have so far taken place.

In January 2025, NATO members from the Baltic region announced the launch of the Baltic Sentry mission. Its purpose was to patrol the Baltic Sea and safeguard underwater infrastructure following a series of cable damage incidents. Earlier, in October 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the start of the Eastern Guardian operation, aimed at reinforcing the alliance’s eastern flank after a drone-related incident on Polish territory.