Britain will double its troops in Norway to 2,000 and lead a key NATO Arctic mission to counter growing Russian security risks in the region.
LONDON: Britain announced it will double its military presence in Norway and assume a vital role in a NATO Arctic mission. The move is a direct response to what the UK government describes as “rising Russian threats” to regional security.
The troop increase will see UK forces in Norway rise from 1,000 to 2,000 over the next three years. This commitment coincides with the United States preparing to hand over leadership of two key regional NATO command posts.
Defence Secretary John Healey (pic) will confirm the deployment during a visit to a UK military site in northern Norway. British forces will participate in NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission to bolster security.
“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,” Healey stated.
The UK’s enhanced role includes taking over leadership of the Norfolk command from Washington. This command focuses on the alliance’s northern defences.
European NATO members have been strengthening Arctic defences following geopolitical tensions. The UK and Norway signed a new defence pact last December.
That agreement enables their navies to jointly operate a warship fleet to monitor Russian submarine activity. Its goal is to protect critical undersea infrastructure like communications cables.
Oslo also announced the purchase of at least five Type-26 frigates from Britain for £10 billion last year. The UK opened a new military base, Camp Viking, in northern Norway in 2023.
Britain is further planning to lead a major military exercise called “Lion Protector” in September. This exercise will involve the Joint Expeditionary Force of northern European and Baltic nations.
“Lion Protector” will train air, land, and naval forces to protect critical national infrastructure from attacks. The exercise underscores the heightened focus on defensive readiness in the region.