Thousands of U.S. Marines are deploying to Norway this month to take part in a major NATO military exercise, as President Donald Trump’s renewed push to seek control of Greenland continues to raise concerns among European leaders.
The Norwegian-led exercise, Cold Response 26, is designed to test NATO’s ability to conduct joint operations in Arctic conditions.
Approximately 3,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, will participate alongside more than 25,000 troops from Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Additional U.S. forces supporting the deployment include special operations units, Navy Seabees and multiple U.S. Air Force aircraft, including F-35A Lightning II fighters, KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft and HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters.
The commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division said the U.S. presence underscores Washington’s longstanding commitment to the NATO alliance.
Scheduled for March, Cold Response 26 will unfold amid uncertainty over the future of transatlantic relations.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump stated the United States would not use force to acquire Greenland but said he was seeking immediate negotiations over the territory. He also questioned NATO’s willingness to defend the U.S., arguing that the alliance operates unevenly.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte rejected the claim, reaffirming that the alliance would stand by the United States as it did following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
In response, France called for a NATO exercise in Greenland, following recent troop deployments by several European nations under Denmark’s Operation Arctic Endurance, described as a reconnaissance mission.
