British Forces in the North: Will Operate in Northern Norway Year-Round This year, Norway and the United Kingdom will increase the cooperation between their military forces. In December, the two countries signed an extensive defense agreement that paves the way for greater British presence in the High North.
Historic Defense Agreement between Norway and the UK Norway and the UK have signed an extensive defense agreement. One of the central points in the agreement involves British forces having a greater role in the defense of Norway.
Arctic Tide: British Royal Marines Practiced Amphibious Operations in the High North The British Royal Navy recently practiced deploying, protecting, and resupplying special forces in Troms, Northern Norway, within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force.
Formidable Shield 2025: "One of NATO's Most Important Deterrence Exercises This Year" Today, around 2,500 soldiers from ten NATO nations began a highly relevant air and missile defense exercise at Andøya, Northern Norway. "The war in Ukraine shows the significance of being able to protect the airspace," says spokesperson at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.
Formidable Shield 2025: "One of NATO's Most Important Deterrence Exercises This Year" Today, around 2,500 soldiers from ten NATO nations began a highly relevant air and missile defense exercise at Andøya, Northern Norway. "The war in Ukraine shows the significance of being able to protect the airspace," says spokesperson at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.
Joint Viking 2025: 10,000 Soldiers From 9 Nations Exercise Defending Northern Norway This year's largest military exercise in Norway kicked off on Monday. Norwegian forces are now practicing on countering military threats in the North – reinforced by allies from Western Europe and North America. "Even more important in light of today’s uncertain security situation," says Deputy Commander of Norway's Joint Headquarters.
Joint Viking 2025: 10,000 Soldiers From 9 Nations Exercise Defending Northern Norway This year's largest military exercise in Norway kicked off on Monday. Norwegian forces are now practicing on countering military threats in the North – reinforced by allies from Western Europe and North America. "Even more important in light of today’s uncertain security situation," says Deputy Commander of Norway's Joint Headquarters.
Norway and the UK Strengthens Defense Cooperation: “A New Era” Norway and the UK are coming together to create a new and extensive agreement to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
Norway and France Forge Closer Defense Ties With an View to the High North Norway and France recently signed a letter of intent on enhanced defense cooperation, emphasizing the significance of situational awareness and presence in the High North. "Protecting the maritime areas in Northern Europe is the key to European security," says the French minister of defense.
US, UK and Norwegian Air Forces Exercise in the High North: F-35s Integrate With B-52 Fighters, bombers, and surveillance aircraft from the US, the UK, and Norway are now exercising to protect the High North. "The Arctic is a critical region for our collective security and global stability," says the commander of US Air Forces in Europe.
Norway Explores Strategic Partnership With France, the UK, Germany, and the US on Frigates Norway is to acquire new frigates in a strategic partnership with a close ally possessing coinciding strategic interests and an eye for the High North. France, the UK, Germany, and the US have now been selected as possible partner countries, says the Norwegian MoD.
UK Aircraft Carrier in the North: “A Formidable Show of Strength” The British HMS Prince of Wales is now the third allied aircraft carrier sailing in Northern Norwegian waters in under a year. The ship serves as a floating air station during the coordinated Joint Warrior and Nordic Response exercises. With this, NATO is showing great strength, says Norway's Air Force chief.
Nordic Response: Over 20 000 Soldiers From 13 Nations Will Practice Defending NATO's Northern Flank In March, Norwegian, Finnish, and Swedish forces will practice defending allied territory in the High North – reinforced by allies from North America and south of Europe. Major military operations have been planned at sea, on land, and in the air. Russia has been informed about the exercise but has not been invited as an observer.
Lords Detect a More Demanding Arctic – Urge Greater UK Engagement in the Region "The Arctic is critical to UK interests. We need to prepare for scenarios in which the Arctic becomes much more contested and subject to conflict,” says Lord Henry Ashton, Chair of the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee.
US Icebreaker Healy On Succesful Research Voyage in the Siberian Arctic Tromsø (High North News): The US' largest and most technologically advanced coast guard vessel, the icebreaker USCGC Healy, has visited Tromsø after an international research voyage in the Eastern Arctic Ocean. In previous years, this voyage has been conducted with Russian icebreakers.
US Carrier Strike Group Trained With British and Norwegian Forces in the High North Recently, the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford with escort vessels, has co-trained with British and Norwegian forces – primarily in the Vestfjord, Northern Norway. An American destroyer has also sailed outside the Finnmark coast and is now docked in Tromsø.
Norway Explores Cooperation With the US and UK on Maritime Surveillance in the High North In June, the Northern Norwegian military bases on Evenes and in Ramsund became "agreed areas" with the US after a new defense agreement. Airborne maritime surveillance and maritime logistics cooperation at the bases is on the horizon, says Norwegian MoD.
The Norwegian Navy Followed Russian Frigate's Voyage North On Thursday, the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov sailed north in international waters outside the Norwegian coast. The voyage, presumably with the Kola Peninsula as its destination, has been observed by Norwegian military vessels.
