NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich on Jan. 12 gave a raving Cold War speech, threatening that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are now working together against the West, particularly focusing on the Arctic. He said that the Arctic has become a new “front line” and urged greater weapons production. Most importantly, he attacked Russia for the Ukraine war. Grynkewich delivered the keynote address at the annual Folk och Försvar (Society and Defense) security conference in Sälen, Sweden, over Jan. 11-13, attended by 400 people.
Grynkewich’s speech coheres with U.S. President Donald Trump’s irrational drive to take over Greenland, to supposedly provide protection to the United States in northern Europe and the Arctic.
Grynkewich began: “A sense of urgency is essential. When I look around the globe, Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and others are increasing their collaboration and their cooperation as their interests align against us. We see this clearly in Ukraine. While President Trump pushes for a peaceful resolution to a horrible war, China continues to fund Putin’s war machine.
“Iran continues to supply technology and weapons. And North Korean combat troops remain in Russia on Ukraine’s border. And of course, there’s a confluence between Russia, Iran, and Venezuela and their dark fleet of oil tankers that is helping to fund the war.”
Looking north, Grynkewich asserted: “In the Arctic and the high north, we see a similar trend. Russian and Chinese vessels are conducting more and more joint patrols. Chinese ice breakers and research vessels are in Arctic waters, and their research is not for peaceful purposes. It’s to gain a military advantage. Russia, meanwhile, continues testing advanced capabilities in the Barren Sea…. In short, the Arctic and Northern Europe by extension has become a front line for strategic competition within NATO.”
