UK Steps Up Arctic Defense, Doubling Troops in Norway
Healey made the announcement while visiting Royal Marine Commandos at Camp Viking in northern Norway, as the UK expands its military footprint in the Arctic and High North.
The move comes amid heightened concerns about Russian activity in the region.
“Demands on defense are rising, and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War. We see Putin rapidly re-establishing military presence in the region, including reopening old Cold War bases,” Healey said in a statement.
“The UK is stepping up to protect the Arctic and High North – doubling the number of troops we have in Norway and scaling up joint exercises with NATO allies,” he added.
The announcement aligns with confirmation that the UK Armed Forces will participate in NATO’s planned Arctic Sentry mission, with detailed planning currently underway at NATO headquarters.
Healey is scheduled to meet with defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the proposals.
Arctic Exercises: Cold Response and Lion Protector
The UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has also outlined expanded operations in the High North.
Exercise Lion Protector, set for September, will involve air, land, and naval forces training to secure critical infrastructure from potential attacks and sabotage, while enhancing joint command and control capabilities. Hundreds of personnel are expected to deploy across Iceland, the Danish Straits, and Norway.
“Cold Response and Lion Protector will this year see thousands of troops deploy across the Arctic and North Atlantic – with the UK leading the way. We train together, we deter together, and if necessary, we will fight together,” Healey said.
In March, 1,500 Royal Marine Commandos will participate in NATO’s Exercise Cold Response across Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The exercise aims to strengthen allies’ ability to defend key locations in challenging terrains, including fjords and mountains.
These developments follow the Lunna House Agreement signed with Norway in December, which includes joint operation of submarine-hunting Type 26 warships, expanded Arctic training, and pre-positioning of British military equipment in Norway.
The UK government has pledged to raise defense spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027, marking the largest sustained increase since the Cold War. The Strategic Defense Review also calls for enhancements to NATO’s deterrence posture in Northern Europe and the High North.
The government emphasized that the UK will play a central role in NATO’s northern response as security concerns in the region intensify.
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