By Blessing Nweke
The United Kingdom will double the number of troops stationed in Norway over the next three years, as Nato allies step up efforts to counter what officials describe as a growing Russian threat in the Arctic and High North.
Defence Secretary John Healey announced that British personnel in Norway will increase from about 1,000 to 2,000. The move comes amid heightened concern over Russia’s military activity in the region, including the reopening of former Cold War bases and an expanded Arctic presence.
“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 said. He is expected to discuss the plans with Nato counterparts at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on Thursday.
The expansion forms part of a broader initiative known as Arctic Sentry, proposed by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. The plan is designed to strengthen surveillance and defence coordination in the region, following the model of Nato’s Baltic and Eastern Sentry missions.
As part of the increased commitment, 1,500 Royal Marine Commandos will participate in Exercise Cold Response in March, a large-scale Nato drill across Norway, Finland and Sweden focused on training forces for extreme Arctic conditions.
In September, the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force will conduct Exercise Lion Protector, involving air, land and naval units from several European nations. The operation will focus on defending critical infrastructure, including undersea cables and pipelines, across Norway, Iceland and the Danish straits.
The Ministry of Defence has reported a 30% rise in Russian submarine activity in UK waters over the past two years, with North Atlantic patrols now matching Cold War-era levels.
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