Latvia will participate in NATO's "Arctic Sentry" mission, the Ministry of Defense told the LETA agency.
The ministry noted that the form and scope of Latvia's participation is currently being clarified with allies.
The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the mission will strengthen NATO's positions in the Arctic and the Far North, while simultaneously expanding the alliance's permanent presence in the region. Defense Minister Andris Spruds noted that the Arctic is becoming an increasingly significant security space where military, economic, and geopolitical interests intersect, and that the launch of the "Arctic Sentry" mission sends a clear signal of the alliance's determination to defend its territory.
The minister stressed that the Arctic region is strategically important for Latvia as it affects transatlantic supply chains, logistics, and overall security, so Latvia is ready to contribute to strengthening collective defense in close cooperation with allies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the mission reflects the alliance's growing concern for Arctic security and was the result of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos last month. At the meeting, the parties agreed that NATO should take greater responsibility for the defense of the region in light of Russia's military activity and China's growing interests in the area.
Preparation for the mission provided NATO with a complete overview of allies' activities in the Arctic and the Far North, the Ministry of Defense noted. The initiative will allow these actions to be combined into a unified operational approach, strengthening the alliance's presence through exercises, such as the Danish "Arctic Endurance" and Norwegian "Cold Response."
The "Arctic Sentry" mission is launched by the Allied Operations Command and is led by the Joint Command in Norfolk, which has been responsible for the entire Arctic region since December 2025.
As reported, tensions in NATO increased after the U.S. president threatened to seize Denmark's autonomous territory - Greenland, however, last month Trump backed away from those statements.
In September, NATO launched Operation "Eastern Sentry" in response to incursions by Russian fighters and drones into the airspace of alliance countries, mobilizing additional surveillance and air defense forces.
