Thousands of U.S. Marines are deploying to Norway to participate in Cold Response 26, a NATO-led Arctic exercise scheduled for March. Roughly 3,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, will join over 25,000 personnel from NATO allies including Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K. Supporting elements include special operations units, Navy Seabees, and Air Force assets such as F-35As, KC-135 tankers, and HH-60W helicopters. The exercise tests Arctic operational capabilities and reinforces U.S. commitment to the alliance. The drills occur amid heightened geopolitical attention to Greenland, as former President Trump’s proposals for negotiations over the territory drew European concern. NATO leadership and European partners, including France, have responded by emphasizing collective defense and proposing exercises to safeguard Arctic security, highlighting the strategic relevance of the region.
