NATO Conducts Cold Response Drills in the Arctic

The Cold Response military exercises, organized by NATO, are taking place from March 9 to March 19, 2026, primarily across northern Norway and Finland. This year, approximately 25,000 troops from 14 nations, including the United States and Denmark, are participating. The drills are part of the Arctic Sentry mission, aimed at enhancing NATO's presence in the Arctic region, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions with Russia.

The Independent

The Cold Response drills have been integrated into NATO's broader strategy to strengthen its defensive capabilities in the European Arctic, where Norway and Finland share a border with Russia. The initiative was notably influenced by former President Donald Trump's assertions regarding Greenland, where he claimed that the U.S. needed the territory to counter threats from Russian and Chinese interests. Both the Danish and Greenlandic governments have firmly stated that Greenland is not for sale.

The Independent

The U.S. is contributing around 4,000 troops to the Cold Response exercises. However, ahead of the drills, the U.S. military withdrew one squadron of F-35 fighter jets, citing the dynamic nature of military deployments without specifying whether the ongoing conflict in the Middle East influenced this decision. A spokesperson for the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe remarked, “The U.S. military is a globally deployed force and it is not abnormal for forces to be dynamically re-tasked or reallocated for a host of reasons.”

A significant aspect of this year's exercises is the emphasis on civilian readiness. Major-General Lars Lervik, head of the Norwegian Army, stated, “We want our military to do its job of defending the country. To do that, we are completely reliant on most aspects of society functioning as normal.” As part of the drills, a scenario will be conducted to test the capacity of hospitals in northern Norway to handle a high influx of casualties from an imaginary frontline in Finland.

While the exercises are designed to bolster NATO's defensive posture, they have drawn criticism regarding their implications for regional stability. Some analysts argue that such military maneuvers could exacerbate tensions with Russia, which views NATO's presence in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security.

The Cold Response exercises represent NATO's commitment to enhancing its military readiness in the Arctic amid evolving geopolitical dynamics. With significant troop involvement and a focus on civilian preparedness, these drills underscore the alliance's strategic priorities in a region marked by increasing competition and security challenges.