NATO Arctic Policy: Deterrence and Defence

Abstract

The article addresses security and defence policy issues surrounding the Arctic, which is on NATO’s new security threat list. The Arctic plays a significant role in NATO Policy, demonstrating a 360-degree approach to security, providing an opportunity for regional adaptation of deterrence and defence, and the application of the specificities of military contingency planning. The paper first introduces NATO’s new concept of deterrence, which aims, among other things, to guarantee the credibility of the defence of the countries of
Northern Europe. It describes in detail NATO’s Arctic Policy and then elaborates on the High-North Scenario, through which the Alliance’s coordinated deterrence efforts can be strengthened. The paper supports the development of a coordinated deterrence framework through dynamic testing of conceptual solutions, which is to present in the final part of the paper. It aims to demonstrate that there is a dynamic hierarchical relationship between NATO’s general policy, its regional policy (Arctic) and strategic defence planning, which
can integrate new security threats into renewed deterrence approaches and ensure political direction in long-term military development.