The British Ministry of Defence announced that the number of troops stationed in Norway will be doubled from 1,000 to 2,000 within the next three years. Defence Secretary John Healey made the statement on Wednesday during a visit to the Royal Marine Commandos at Camp Viking, located on the Arctic Circle in northern Norway.
Healey said that the UK forces will play an important role in the planned NATO mission “Arctic Sentry”. He added that the demands on defence are increasing and that Russia poses the greatest threat to the security of the Arctic and the high North- a situation that has been observed since the Cold War. The minister noted that Vladimir Putin is rapidly rebuilding Russia’s military presence in the region, including reopening former Cold‑War bases.
“In the UK we are strengthening our efforts to protect the Arctic and the high North” Healey said. “We are doing this by doubling the number of our troops in Norway and expanding joint exercises with NATO allies”.
Under the “Cold Response” and “Lion Protector” exercises, which will see the UK lead thousands of soldiers stationed in the Arctic and the North Atlantic this year, Healey emphasized the importance of collective training. “We train together, we deter together, and if necessary, we fight together” he concluded.