A German naval vessel is participating in a Canadian-led exercise in the North Atlantic, a move officials say contributes to regional security and deterrence. Nils Schmid, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Defence, highlighted the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the area during a media interview aboard the German supply ship “Berlin.
Schmid referenced observed Russian activity in the region, characterizing it as assertive and aggressive and stated the necessity of a visible deterrent to discourage potential conflict. He stressed that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is fundamentally a defensive alliance and aims to demonstrate, through military strength, the unacceptability of attacks on NATO territory, including Greenland.
Responding to previous statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, Schmid acknowledged the historical role the United States has played in ensuring the island’s security. He emphasized the collective NATO commitment to countering the militarization of the Arctic region by Russia, stating that European solidarity and U.S. contributions within the alliance are vital to this goal.
Schmid pointed to increased cooperation between Canada, Germany, Denmark and Norway to strengthen their maritime presence in the North Atlantic, with the deployment of the “Berlin” as a tangible example of this enhanced collaboration.
