With more soldiers, Luxembourg will be better equipped to defend itself – and by extension, NATO as a whole. That was the message from US General Alexus Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, during his working visit to Luxembourg on Monday.
An honour guard reception was held at Senningen Castle, with two platoons, military music, and General Steve Thull in attendance. Inside, General Grynkewich met with Defence Minister Yuriko Backes to discuss military cooperation. The ceremonial atmosphere echoed a coordinated military public relations event.
At the following press conference, questions were welcomed as General Grynkewich reiterated the United States’ ironclad commitment to NATO, particularly to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty – the collective defence clause that ensures an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
“I personally embody that commitment as an American officer serving in NATO’s supreme command in Europe”, the general said, noting that American personnel are embedded throughout NATO’s operational structure. He stated there was no indication the US would scale back its involvement, quite the opposite, in fact: “The USA is strengthening NATO to ensure it remains the most powerful alliance in the world”.
The general praised Luxembourg’s expanding role in NATO, highlighting that defence spending is set to rise from 2% of GDP to 3.5% by 2035. “Luxembourg is a small country, but it fights in a higher weight class”, Grynkewich said, citing the country’s participation in NATO’s integrated missile and air defence systems. He added that even the addition of a single soldier helps ease the collective burden across the Alliance.
Minister Backes emphasised Luxembourg’s foreign deployments, including missions in Kosovo, Lithuania and Romania, describing them as “boots on the ground.” General Grynkewich recalled meeting Luxembourgish troops in Romania, praising the close cooperation between a Canadian sergeant-major and Belgian, Spanish, and Luxembourgish troops describing it as a living embodiment of the Alliance.
He also expressed immense admiration for the introduction of Defence Bonds, a government initiative allowing the public to for the first time support defence financing directly through investment.
The general stated that demilitarisation could not be on the table as long as the war in Ukraine continues. The situation there remains very difficult due to winter conditions and ongoing Russian attacks on infrastructure. The US has re-established a direct communication line with Russia, he said, though any additional political pressure to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position would require decisions on the political level not the military sphere.
According to the general, the US is already doing a great deal, but added that further details could not be disclosed in an unclassified environment. Regarding Greenland and Arctic strategy, Grynkewich confirmed that NATO is in the final planning stage of an “Arctic Sentry” mission. Though details remain sparse, he noted that increased Russian and Chinese activity in the region had prompted stronger NATO presence.
An official announcement on the mission is expected later this week.
