Swedish Fighter Jets Patrol the Arctic: NATO's Arctic Sentinel Operation and the New Geostrategic Chessboard

On February 13, 2026, the Swedish government announced it would deploy JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to patrol the airspace around Iceland and Greenland, while also sending Air Force Rangers and Army Ranger units to Greenland for several weeks of exercises. This deployment is part of NATO's newly launched Operation Arctic Sentinel. The operation was announced by General Alexis G. Grynkiewicz, Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, with the command center located at the Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that this move aims to enhance deterrence and protect shared interests, but the context of the operation is not purely about Arctic security patrols. The immediate trigger was the so-called Greenland Crisis, sparked in January 2026 when former U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House and publicly reiterated his interest in purchasing Greenland, Denmark's autonomous territory, even suggesting that military means were not off the table.

The Strategic Essence and Troop Deployment of Operation Arctic Sentinel.

On the surface, Operation Arctic Sentinel is a demonstration of alliance strength. The objective of the operation is to enhance NATO's presence in the Arctic and High North regions, responding to activities by Russia and China. Besides Sweden, participants include military forces from Norway and Denmark. The JAS 39 Gripen deployed by Sweden is the primary multirole fighter aircraft of the Nordic countries, excelling in takeoff and landing under harsh weather conditions and on short runways, making it suitable for the Arctic environment. The ground forces consist of Ranger units specialized in polar warfare. However, analyzing the scale and timing of the operation reveals that its political symbolism outweighs its military substance.

NATO's permanent military presence in Greenland dates back to the Cold War. Thule Air Base, the northernmost U.S. military base, holds significant strategic importance. However, in recent years, the U.S. military presence in Greenland has decreased from thousands of personnel to approximately 150. The recent Arctic Sentinel operation did not announce plans for a large-scale troop increase, focusing more on rotational deployments and short-term exercises. This contrasts with Russia's military buildup in the Arctic. The Russian military has systematically reactivated Soviet-era Arctic bases, such as facilities on Alexandra Land and Kotelny Island, deploying Bastion anti-ship missile systems and radar stations, and establishing specialized Arctic combat brigades. Meanwhile, China seeks influence through the Polar Silk Road and scientific research investments. Although its attempts at mining and infrastructure investments in Greenland have repeatedly faced setbacks, its long-term interest remains clear.

Therefore, the Arctic Sentinel is more of a political reassurance operation. In early February 2026, at Davos, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met with U.S. President Trump, with the core agenda being to calm the Greenland controversy. The operation was swiftly announced after the meeting, with European allies providing the main forces. This cleverly transformed Trump's interest in territory into concern for the alliance's collective Arctic defense. General Grinkevich of NATO's Norfolk Command referred to Norfolk as a bridge connecting North America and Europe. The underlying message of this statement is: Europe is demonstrating the alliance's value through concrete actions in exchange for continued U.S. commitment.

Sweden's NATO Role and Nordic Security Calculations

For Sweden, this deployment marks its first forward combat mission in the Arctic region under the NATO framework since joining the alliance in 2024. This reflects a shift in Sweden's defense policy—from an armed neutral Nordic nation to a security provider on NATO's northeastern flank. The Swedish Ministry of Defense did not disclose the specific number of aircraft and personnel in its statement, maintaining its consistent caution, but the strategic intent is clear.

Geographically, the Scandinavian Peninsula, where Sweden is located, faces the Kola Peninsula across the sea. Russia has deployed its Northern Fleet and a significant amount of strategic nuclear forces on the Kola Peninsula, including nuclear submarine bases in the Murmansk region. Saint Petersburg on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea is a crucial maritime outlet for Russia, while Kaliningrad serves as a military outpost embedded in Europe. The Swedish military assesses that once the conflict in Ukraine eases, Russia's military focus is likely to shift northward, intensifying pressure in the Nordic direction. Therefore, directing U.S. strategic attention toward the Arctic aligns with the security interests of Sweden and the entire Nordic region.

A deeper consideration lies in resources and shipping routes. The melting Arctic ice cap is opening new maritime routes, such as the Northeast Passage. Greenland possesses underexplored rare earth, oil, and natural gas resources. By participating in operations around Greenland, Sweden not only fulfills its NATO obligations but also secures a voice for itself in the future competition for Arctic resources. Prime Minister Kristersson emphasized that the operation concerns European and transatlantic cooperation, essentially highlighting that European allies are attempting to bind the United States to overall investment in European security by taking on more Arctic defense responsibilities.

Russia's response and the risk of Arctic militarization.

Moscow's response was swift and firm. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that if the West strengthens its military presence in Greenland, Russia will take countermeasures, including military-technical means. He emphasized that any militarization of the Arctic region would trigger an appropriate response from Moscow. Such statements are not empty words.

Russia has defined the Arctic as a strategic resource base and a key area for national security. Its Arctic Strategic Command was established in 2014, overseeing all military forces in the region. In addition to reopening bases, the Russian military frequently conducts Arctic exercises, testing new polar equipment such as the Tor-M2DT polar air defense system and the DT-30PM articulated all-terrain vehicle. The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers of Russia's long-range aviation also regularly conduct deterrence patrols over the Arctic.

Operation Arctic Sentinel is likely to exacerbate the already existing security dilemma in the Arctic. Russia will interpret it as NATO leveraging the Greenland crisis to advance its strategic frontier. Although NATO claims the operation is defensive, Russia perceives it differently. A potential flashpoint lies in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea, which serve as the Northern Fleet's crucial passage into the Atlantic and are key areas for NATO anti-submarine patrols. If the patrol range of Swedish fighter jets overlaps with Russian military activity zones, it may increase the risk of aerial confrontations and accidental incidents.

Furthermore, such actions may prompt Russia to strengthen its Arctic cooperation with China. Although China and Russia are not complete allies in the Arctic, with overlapping and competing interests between the two sides, unified NATO actions could deepen their coordination in scientific research, shipping, and even security dialogues. This would shift the Arctic from a relatively low-intensity competitive zone to the forefront of major power confrontation.

A Delicate Moment in Transatlantic Relations and Its Future Trajectory

The Arctic Sentinel operation coincided with the NATO Defense Ministers' Meeting held in Brussels on February 15, 2026. On the eve of the meeting, defense ministers from various European countries felt uneasy. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not attend; instead, he was replaced by Elbridge Colby, known for advocating a shift in U.S. strategic focus toward the Indo-Pacific to address China. European allies were concerned that Colby might bring plans for a large-scale withdrawal of U.S. troops from Europe.

According to internal NATO information obtained by Euronews, the United States currently has approximately 80,000 to 90,000 troops stationed in Europe, and only a limited number are planned to be withdrawn. If the information is accurate, European defense ministers may temporarily breathe a sigh of relief. However, the Arctic Sentinel operation itself reveals a contradiction: U.S. President Trump hopes to reduce investment in NATO while attempting to maintain dominance over the alliance's decision-making. Europe's response strategy is to demonstrate its own value by proactively undertaking specific tasks such as Arctic patrols, thereby delaying or offsetting the pressure from U.S. strategic retrenchment.

From Sweden's deployment of Gripen fighter jets to Greenland, we see a nuanced picture. This is not only a tactical move by NATO to address Arctic security challenges but also a strategic hedge by Europe as uncertainties in transatlantic relations rise. It uses military deployment to respond to a political crisis, masking deep internal anxieties with the appearance of alliance solidarity. Above Greenland's ice fields, the flight paths of Swedish fighter jets have not only traced across the Arctic sky but also across the emerging cracks in Europe's security architecture. In the future, while European nations continue to rely on NATO, they will inevitably accelerate the development of independent defense capabilities based on the EU, as foreshadowed by French President Macron's recent renewed push to discuss the European nuclear umbrella. The Arctic's cold is compelling Europe to contemplate a future without the full protection of the United States.