From Norfolk in the US, NATO is Closely Monitoring the Threat Situation in the High North

"We will do everything we can to avoid war. But the reason we exist as a joint operational headquarters is because there is a chance of crisis and war. Our function is to lead the collective defence of the region."

That is stated by Major General Frode Kristoffersen about the role and responsibility of NATO's Joint Force Command Norfolk in the United States, where Kristoffersen is Deputy Chief of Staff Operations. 

High North News has been granted access to the base where the NATO command is located, and which is now led by the United Kingdom and British General Nick Perry. 

NATO focus on the Arctic

JFC Norfolk is responsible for defending the northwest region of the NATO alliance. Its area of responsibility includes large ocean areas of the North Atlantic, the Arctic, the Nordic countries and the United Kingdom.

"Much of what we do in peacetime is about preparing for defensive warfare, and has a deterrent effect," continues Kristoffersen. 

"We must show Russia that we are strong in all domains, that we stand together as NATO. Then we reduce the chances of an attack."

One of the major steps NATO has taken in the Arctic over the past year is the enhanced vigilance activity Arctic Sentry, led by JFC Norfolk. The mission is to coordinate the Alliance’s activities and strengthen its presence in the region.

"Before we launched Arctic Sentry, there was considerable Allied activity in the Arctic, but it was often carried out between smaller groups of nations. It was time to give the region a comprehensive NATO focus. Our approach to Arctic Sentry was to provide command and coordination of the exercises and activities," the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations explains. 

Russia, meanwhile, has built up capabilities in the Arctic over several years, including upgrading old military bases and investing in new weapons systems and other military capabilities. This applies not least to advanced missiles, submarines and other vessels. 

"The Arctic is of high priority for Russia," Kristoffersen points out. 

How would you describe the security situation in the region today?

"The High North faces threats at three different levels, which are also interconnected. First, there is the nuclear triad on the Kola Peninsula, which is Russia’s military centre of gravity. This nuclear threat is to be responded to by NATO through the nuclear weapons umbrella."

"The second level is the regional threat, where there is a possibility that Russia could threaten NATO countries such as Norway or Finland. After Finland was officially included in JFC Norfolk, the command now also has the longest land border with Russia of the three joint force commands in NATO," he adds. 

"In addition, as we have seen in the media recently, there are hybrid threats to an increasing extent. Hybrid threats are a way for Russia to achieve objectives in peacetime, involving various means that are not intended to trigger NATO's Article 5."

Kristoffersen furthermore points to the expected increase in hybrid threats in Europe going forward. He notes that the Russian attempts should be seen as a protest against support for Ukraine, with a likely objective of Western nations prioritizing their own security and reducing support for Ukraine. That would be a Russian victory, says the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations.

"The public should understand these objectives. If people understand that incidents such as cyber attacks or drone observations will continue with this purpose, that is perhaps also be the best way to prevent Russia from achieving its goals," he stresses. 

The Neighbor in the North

Also present in Norfolk is Vice Admiral Rune Andersen, Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters (NJHQ) in Norway.

The Norwegian Joint Headquarters answers to JFC Norfolk and is responsible for supporting the US-based joint operational headquarters in daily operations, including reporting on and assessing developments in the High North. 

"It is a very complex picture," Andersen also says of the security situation in the north.

"In Norway, after all, we are used to having first the Soviet Union and then Russia as our neighbour in the north. There are some things that are now getting public attention, which are actually part of the normal picture and have always been there. But now we look at it through a different lens, with more mistrust and concern than before," the Chief of the NJHQ notes. 

"In this situation, I believe Norway has an advantage. We have observed Russia for many decades and have an understanding of them and of what constitutes the normal situational picture. Many other NATO countries have a different historical reference to Russia, and some have, to a larger extent, focused elsewhere," he adds. 

Andersen emphasizes that Norway has an important role in the north in providing knowledge to other Allies who want to operate in Norway's adjacent areas; about the situation and the strategic outlook in the High North region. It is about how to operate wisely to get the desired effects. 

"When Allied presence has increased significantly, it has become a very large part of our job from the Norwegian side to facilitate, inform, and synchronize the Allies who want to come up there."

Returning to Russian core areas

What major changes do you see in military activity in the High North?

"The biggest change in activity in recent years has primarily been from the Allied side," Andersen points out. 

"We have significantly strengthened Allied presence, to a level that one may have to go back to certain periods of the Cold War to find, in terms of numbers and frequency. We have strengthened collective defence and cooperation on security in the north, in addition to establishing structures such as in JFC Norfolk to coordinate this."

Regarding Russian military activity in the region, Andersen reminds us that Russia, since the Cold War, has withdrawn from the Atlantic Ocean and up to its own core areas in the Barents Sea region to protect its nuclear weapons. 

"The Russian defense force in the north does not have the capacity to try to threaten the West far out, as they did during the Cold War. They have withdrawn, and at the same time they are developing, among other things, weapons systems that are asymmetric in nature and can penetrate Europe or the United States."

An example is the testing of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile in the High North, as then Chief of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, Vice Admiral Nils Andreas Stensønes, confirmed to Aftenposten in August 2025.

Furthermore, Russia is also developing its GUGI-programme, which the British Ministry of Defence describes as Russia's long-running military programme to develop capabilities to be deployed from specialist surface vessels and submarines, that are intended to survey underwater infrastructure during peacetime, but then damage or destroy infrastructure during a conflict.

As HNN reported, the United Kingdom and Norway, among others, uncovered a Russian submarine operation earlier this year in which Allied forces identified and monitored two specialised submarines associated with Russia's Main Directorate of Deep Sea Research (GUGI). These were conducting suspicious activity near critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic. The GUGI submarines also operated out of the High North.

"The security of the entire Alliance"

"We are seeing some long-term developments, and it is particularly important not to remain stuck in memories of the Soviet navy or its structure. It has changed, and that is also one of the reasons why the High North is so important. This is not just about Norwegian security, but about the security of the entire Alliance," says Andersen. 

"The weapons systems being developed and operated up there are renewed means to influence, threaten or force decision-making processes in Europe to their knees," he adds.

In the current situation moreover, the Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters is clear that Russia is under considerable pressure with the increasing success of Ukrainian attacks far away from the conflict area.

"We see a Russia that is concerned about attacks; virtually everywhere, all the time. The perceived threat is high."

Andersen says this characterizes the picture right now, for instance around the Finnmark coast in the northermost part of Norway, including frequent Russian sorties to make sure they know what is coming northwards.

"We are aware of this, continue to understand it and continue to put pressure on Russia, while avoiding misunderstandings that could lead to a dangerous situation," he notes.

What, then, about Russia's understanding of Allies' intentions in the north? 

"One aspect of the situation is that Russia has moved most of its ground forces on the Kola Peninsula to Ukraine. I interpret this as a sign that Russia, despite the rhetoric, knows that NATO is a defensive alliance that is not going to attack. Otherwise, they could not have done this, and they presumably also understand our strengthening of presence, collective security and cooperation in the north," Andersen assesses. 

"It is an important point that Russia is taking this risk," Kristoffersen at JFC Norfolk adds, continuing: 

"In addition, it is also logical that we are building up our defence in NATO, when we have seen them carry out a large-scale attack in Europe. Russia must understand that too."

When High North News meets Kristoffersen and Andersen, there is a historic change of command taking place at JFC Norfolk.

British General Nick Perry (left) took over command of JFC Norfolk from the US Vice Admiral Doug Perry.

The change of command took place in line with a new distribution of responsibilities at higher levels in NATO's military command structure.

360-degree defence

JFC Norfolk is the Alliance's newest joint operational headquarters and was declared fully operational in 2021.

"During the major NATO exercise Trident Juncture in 2018, it was the NATO headquarters in Naples that was responsible for defending Northern Norway," Andersen illustrates, looking back. 

"The discussion in NATO on regionalisation was difficult, but right, particularly given the current security situation and the fact that NATO should have a 360-degree defence of the Alliance. It is then advantageous to direct things towards different areas," he says, continuing: 

"Taking Norway as an example, the geographical, climatic and strategic conditions in the north require partners who are close to us and understand us. Sweden and Finland’s NATO entries are a major strength for Norway, but it also means that we must take care of a number of important tasks when it comes to transit and support. At the same time, it is important to point out the importance of close integration with other Allies as well. It is not about the Nordic countries alone," says the Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. 

"It is still the case that an attack on one is an attack on all," Kristoffersen at JFC Norfolk, says, continuing:

"When we launched Arctic Sentry, one of the first things that happened was that Germany sent fighter aircraft to Iceland under Iceland Air Policing to mark the launch. There is a strong willingness among nations to contribute across the regions that we are now divided into."

Still looking north

Recently, a historic shift occurred at JFC Norfolk when the UK and British General Nick Perry took over command earlier in September.

The change of command is in line with the agreement among Nato countries that European allies will take on more prominent roles in the Alliance’s military command structure. While Europeans assume command of the three joint operational headquarters, the US will take leadership of the air, maritime and land component commands.

"The message is that it is time for Europe to take greater responsibility for European security, but that does not mean the United States is withdrawing. They remain fully engaged," says Kristoffersen at JFC Norfolk. 

"The United States must be engaged in European security in those areas where only they can deliver; such as nuclear deterrence and certain niche capabilities," says Andersen at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.

"What is happening in the North Atlantic is also unique and they will continue to be engaged there because this affects American security. We will have a basis for continuing to cooperate well with the US on the High North, but they also need to gradually prioritise their greatest long-term security risks, which include China," he continues. 

"We have very good military cooperation and a sound basis for doing this in an orderly and wise manner. International politics is quite turbulent these days, but international military cooperation is not so turbulent. It is quite steady."

Kristoffersen in Norfolk sees the same thing:

"Absolutely. And perhaps stabilizing as well."