Diplomacy

NATO to launch satellite surveillance of Russia and the Arctic

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NATO is transitioning to its own satellite surveillance systems, considering potential issues in cooperation with the US, which has traditionally played a central role in the alliance’s intelligence gathering.

Speaking to Bloomberg, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Pierre Vandier stated that the new system will, for the first time, allow the alliance to monitor “vast territories” such as the Russian borders, the war in Ukraine, and the Arctic.

For the initiative, named SINBAD (Smart Indicators and Warnings for Wide Area Detection), NATO has partnered with the US satellite imagery provider Planet Labs. The company will scan specific regions worldwide throughout the year to obtain high-frequency images, and artificial intelligence will be used to detect any changes and generate alerts.

General Vandier mentioned that the new satellite surveillance capabilities will meet both current mission requirements and potential needs that could arise from a peace agreement in Ukraine.

“Today, we are not sure that the Russians will stop in Ukraine,” Vandier said, emphasizing the importance of providing timely intelligence to Eastern European countries. He added, “We will be able to tell them: ‘We are watching you.'”

According to officials, if a peace agreement is reached, satellite intelligence will help NATO countries monitor the implementation of the ceasefire. This monitoring is seen as a crucial part of the guarantees Kyiv would need to receive from countries within a “coalition of the willing” planning a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.

An alliance official noted that SINBAD is a pilot project preceding a larger-scale space intelligence deployment planned for January 2026. Another alliance representative added that the technology could also be used to monitor the Arctic, which is becoming increasingly important for NATO due to the growing influence of Russia and China in the region.

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