Thousands of U.S. Marines are deploying to Norway this month for Cold Response 26, a Norwegian-led NATO exercise designed to test Arctic operational readiness. Approximately 3,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune will join over 25,000 personnel from allied nations including Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Supporting forces include Navy Seabees, special operations units, and Air Force assets such as F-35As, KC-135 tankers, and HH-60W helicopters. While reinforcing transatlantic military collaboration, the deployment occurs amid geopolitical uncertainty, following President Trump’s comments about potential negotiations over Greenland. NATO leadership has reassured allies of collective defense commitments, and European powers have explored Arctic operations under Denmark’s Operation Arctic Endurance. Cold Response 26, scheduled for March, will evaluate multinational interoperability, combat readiness in extreme conditions, and long-range deployment capability across northern Europe.
