Published 8 Jun, 2026 18:39
NATO has launched a fresh experimental unit to test various unmanned systems in the Arctic; this is another step in expanding the military presence of this US-led alliance in the region.
The Alliance consistently cites the alleged threat from Russia, thus justifying the expansion of its possible in the Arctic.
Moscow rejects these claims, arguing that the militarisation of the region is the consequence of NATO's own actions, and announces an appropriate consequence to Arctic activity – an area where Russia controls more than half of the coastline.
NATO's latest initiative was reported last weekend erstwhile a investigation vessel ‘Alliance’ It sailed from the Italian port of La Spezia, thus starting the Task Force X-Arctic task force (TFX-Arctic).
The experimental unit is to carry out operations by 2026 and the following year, with the aim of demonstrating how unmanned systems can supply permanent situational awareness in many operational domains in the North Atlantic, Arctic and Far North.
This initiative builds on the experience gained in the activities of a akin task force set up in the Baltic Sea last year.
"Task Force X-Arctic aims to test and integrate fresh technologies into 1 of the most demanding operational environments in the world.
This will aid allies set future standards and keep the combat advantage needed to carry out actions, adapt and win in the Far North" said Admiral Pierre Vandier.
This information appeared at a time erstwhile NATO's wide-ranging exercises under the code name BALTOPS 26 were taking place in the Baltic Sea region.
Among the objectives of this 55th edition of maneuvers – involving about 6000 soldiers from the 15 States of the Alliance – the request was explicitly mentioned "strange Russian threats".
This year, for the first time, the command of the exercises is exercised by NATO's interior command structure – the Allied Joint Forces Command in Brunssum (based in the Netherlands) – alternatively than, so far, the American side.
Representatives of the Russian authorities, including president Vladimir Putin, have repeatedly expressed concern about the expansion of NATO's possible in the Arctic and beyond, claiming that the military alliance sees the Arctic as "headhead to possible conflicts", and informing that Moscow will respond in an appropriate manner.
Last week spokeswoman of the Russian MFA Maria Zacharowa suggested that "absurd myths about the Russian threat" in the Arctic and another regions are fueled by NATO leaders to explain to their societies, "why they gotta spend even more on militarisation and allocate additional resources to solve imaginary problems alternatively of dealing with real challenges and threats to solve economical and social problems".
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/641264-nato-arctic-drone-force/
