NATO will continue to defend its members’ interests in the Arctic region amid increasingly complex relations with Russia and China, according to Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee.
Speaking during his keynote speech at the 11th Arctic Circle Assembly on Saturday, Bauer assured member states of the alliance’s commitment, unveiling new defense plans, major training exercises and the growing footprint of Joint Force Command-Norfolk in the Arctic.
The admiral also emphasized Iceland and the Nordic Defence Cooperation’s significant contribution to maintaining regional stability.
“Iceland continues to be strategically important because of its location … operating crucial NATO air defense and surveillance systems,” Bauer said during his meeting with Icelandic Defense Chief Jonas G. Allansson.
In addition to Bauer and Allansson, other key defense leaders who attended the assembly included Arctic Circle Assembly Chairman and former Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson and Michael Sfraga, U.S. ambassador-at-large for Arctic affairs.
NATO recently announced commitments from its member states for five new major initiatives geared toward improving defense collaboration. Among the projects are enhancing the interchangeability and interoperability of key allied artillery munitions and extending the Distributed Synthetic Training Environment program.