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The United Kingdom plans to significantly increase its military presence in Norway over the coming three years to address growing security concerns linked to Russian activities in the Arctic region. Defence Secretary John Healey announced that the number of British troops deployed in Norway will grow from approximately 1,000 personnel to 2,000. This move reflects rising worries among NATO nations over Russia’s renewed military focus on the High North, including the refurbishment of former Cold War bases.
Healey highlighted the escalating challenges, stating, “Demands on defence are rising and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War.” The defence chief is set to meet with NATO officials at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters to discuss these plans further. This expansion will also see 1,500 Royal Marine Commandos participating in Exercise Cold Response, a large-scale joint training event scheduled for March that spans Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The exercise aims to prepare allied troops for operations under harsh Arctic conditions.
In addition to Exercise Cold Response, the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force will conduct Lion Protector in September. This exercise includes air, land, and naval components from multiple European countries, focusing on protecting key infrastructure against potential attacks and sabotage. The operation will cover strategic areas such as Norway, Iceland, and the Danish straits, regions critical to NATO’s defense.
Heightened tensions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have prompted NATO and the UK to pay closer attention to Moscow’s activities in the Arctic and surrounding waters, particularly regarding underwater cables and pipelines. The Ministry of Defence reports a 30% increase in Russian submarine activity in UK waters over the past two years, noting that such movements have returned to Cold War-era levels in the North Atlantic. This resurgence has prompted the UK and its allies to step up their military readiness in the region
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