NATO's “Arctic Sentry” mission is imminent. Alliance eyes 'China's growing interest in Far North' and Russia's military activity

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is expected to launch the Arctic Sentry mission in the coming days, which could strengthen surveillance and military resources in the Arctic, five sources told Reuters news agency, as the development comes amid tensions between US President Donald Trump and European allies over Greenland.

The launch of the Arctic Sentry mission could happen as soon as this week, when defense ministers from NATO member countries meet in Brussels, three European diplomats, a military official and a person familiar with the situation said.

The Arctic Sentry operation could involve military exercises, increased surveillance, additional ships and aerial assets, including drones, said the quoted diplomats, according to Agerpres.

However, officials said the mission would likely focus on making more effective use of NATO resources in the region, rather than deploying large numbers of new forces.

The mission “is part of the Alliance's efforts to further strengthen our deterrence and defense in the region, particularly given Russia's military activity and China's growing interest in the Far North,” a NATO official told Reuters in an email.

The mission is expected to be operational soon, the official added.

The alliance announced last week that it had begun planning the mission, following talks in Davos between Trump and NATO chief Mark Rutte that eased serious tensions over Trump's desire to acquire the self-governing Danish territory of Greenland.

Officials said no final decision has been made and options are still being worked on.

But the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Alexus Grynkewich, said on Monday that planning for the operation was in the “final stages”.

During a visit to Luxembourg, Grynkewich said he would receive a mission planning briefing from NATO's Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia, on Tuesday.

“If the briefing goes well … we may have something that we can announce later this week on how we're going to move forward on this,” the general told reporters.