MONS, Belgium - Finnish and Swedish Air Forces provided fighter escort to the U.S. Air Force Bomber Task Force, from Nov. 5 to 7, 2024, on its latest transit across Greenland, Barents and Baltic Seas.
During two separate training missions, Finnish F/A-18s and Swedish JAS 39 Gripens flew alongside 2 B-52 Stratofortresses as they travelled over Greenland, Finland and Sweden before continuing their transit through the Baltic Sea and back to their temporary home base at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom.
NATO will defend its interests in the Arctic
Building a stronger coalition, capable of deterring threats and aggression from adversaries throughout the High North, is an essential component of NATO’s commitment to maintaining freedom of action in the Arctic region. In his keynote speech before the Arctic Circle Assembly on Oct. 19, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, expressed his concerns about Russia’s continued military build-up in the Arctic and the growing (military) cooperation between China and Russia in the Arctic region.
“NATO will defend its interests in the Arctic. We have a responsibility to protect all our Allies, including the seven here in this region. And we want to uphold the international rules-based order, which includes freedom of navigation,” said Admiral Bauer
Admiral Bauer also praised closer Nordic Defence Cooperation. “The historic accession of Sweden and Finland makes NATO stronger, also in the High North. And Nordic Allies are investing deeply in their capabilities and equipment,” Bauer added.
A reflection of NATO’s extended commitment to Allies and partners to enhance regional security, missions like this provide ideal opportunities to integrate with and operate alongside forces from the Arctic nations, such as Finland and Sweden.
General James Hekker, Commander U.S. Forces in Europe – Air Forces in Africa stated, “Our ability to work side-by-side with Allies is a key advantage, sending a message of assurance to our friends while also deterring potential aggressive actions by strategic competitors.”