The number of British troops stationed in Norway will double over the next three years as part of efforts to counter Russian threats in the High North.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced that the number of armed forces personnel deployed in the Arctic region will increase from approximately 1,000 to 2,000.
This commitment comes amid growing concerns among NATO allies over Russia’s activities in the Arctic, including the reopening of former Cold War bases and an increased military presence in the region.
“Defence demands are rising, and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War,” Healey stated.
The Defence Secretary will join NATO counterparts at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the proposals.
The proposed Arctic Guard initiative, introduced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, aims to strengthen monitoring and security in the region, modeled on existing NATO frameworks such as the Baltic Air Policing and enhanced forward presence missions.
As part of the expanded presence, 1,500 Royal Marines Commandos will participate in NATO’s Cold Response exercise in March. The large-scale exercise in Norway, Finland, and Sweden is designed to train allied forces to operate in extreme Arctic conditions.
In September, the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force will conduct an exercise known as “Lion Defender,” involving air, land, and naval forces from several European countries. The operation aims to train armed forces to protect critical infrastructure against attacks and sabotage across Norway, Iceland, and the Danish Straits.
The United Kingdom and its NATO allies have become increasingly concerned about the risk Moscow poses to undersea cables and pipelines, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the UK and Norway signed a defence pact aimed at protecting subsea cables, allowing the navies of both countries to operate a combined fleet to track Russian submarines.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic has increased by 30% over the past two years and has now reached levels comparable to those seen during the Cold War.
