Norway is hosting NATO Cold Response 26

Two weeks after the US and Israel launched a new war in the Middle East and an international energy crisis, Norway is hosting NATO exercises in the Arctic, leaders of Germany and Canada visiting.

This year’s edition of the NATO winter exercises Cold Response is currently under way in the Norwegian Arctic, led by Norwegian-American operative headquarters in Bodø. It attracted the Prime Ministers of Germany and Canada who visited the troops in Bardufoss, with their Norwegian host. The three heads of government saw how forces from 14 NATO countries are exercising during Cold Response, and meet Norwegian, German and Canadian soldiers.

Cold Response is a Norwegian-led winter exercise that takes place every two years in northern Norway and northern Finland. Around 25,000 soldiers from 14 NATO countries are participating in the exercise in Norway. A further 7,500 soldiers participate in Finland. The purpose is to train the reception of allied forces and the defense of Norway and the Nordic region. US sent around 4,000 troops even after needing to divert some fighter jets and other aircraft to the Middle East.

Norway’s challenging climate and varied geography, with short distances between fjords and mountains, make the country an attractive arena for military training. Exercises in Norwegian conditions provide allied forces with valuable experience in Arctic environments, which is essential for operational capability in the High North. Cold Response 26 is conducted primarily in Nordland, Troms and western Finnmark. This constitutes the land component of the exercise, with additional land operations taking place in northern Finland. In addition, air operations will be conducted over all the Nordic countries, and maritime operations in the North Atlantic.

Sources: Regjeringen and Forsvaret.

Over the past year, the seven Arctic countries in NATO have worked to develop a common allied stance on presence in the Arctic. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is pleased that the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney came to experience the winter exercise in the north with their own eyes. Støre said:

In Bardufoss, we will meet soldiers from allied countries who contribute to our common security. Cold Response helps to practice Norway’s total defense, and it shows NATO’s strength and unity across the Atlantic.

Security in the Arctic is crucial. This is a region where Norway and NATO create security for all allies every day. This type of training and exercise is crucial for allied forces to master Norwegian conditions, especially in winter. It strengthens our common security.

It was both Merz’ and Carney’s first official visits to Norway and the first time a Canadian prime minister had visited since 1980. Canada, of course, is itself a country with Arctic lands and shared interests with the Nordic members of NATO.

Merz, Støre and Carney visiting the Telemark Batallion in Bardufoss during the Cold Response 26 exercise. Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold / Forsvaret

At the same time Norway is signing new ‘historic’ defense agreements directly with specific NATO allies like the UK and, more recently, Germany. Støre and Merz signed their ‘Hansa Agreement’ during the Munich Security Conference last month that allows much deeper and broader cooperation on surveillance from space, maritime security, land-based defense operations, rapid response to any threats and defense industry issues.

Norway remains among the most ardent defenders of and biggest donors to Ukraine. Støre has made several trips to Kyiv, received Zelensky in Oslo and joined EU colleagues in stressing how Ukraine is fighting not just for its own freedom and democracy but also for that in all of Europe. The war Putin ordered poses a threat to all of Russia’s neighbors, including Norway.

New oil crisis

Regarding the new war in the Middle East initiated by Trump and Israel, which has already sent oil and gas prices soaring and set off concerns of an energy crisis like in the 1970s, Støre said some missiles have been fired towards Turkey, raising questions of whether NATO will get involved in the war on Iran:

The alliance is following the situation closely, but this is not a matter for NATO. Nor does Norway have plans to provide military escort for Norwegian-owned or controlled ships still caught in the Persian Gulf.

Norway is responding instead by producing as much oil and gas of its own to boost supplies and lower prices, while other European countries are keen on increasing energy sources from solar- and wind power.

Støre (center) and Merz visiting troops in Bardufoss on Friday. Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold / Forsvaret

Space collaboration

On Saturday, Merz and Støre visited Norway’s Andøya Space center on the northern coast just south of Andesnes. This satellite launching and testing site is aimed at improving space-based surveillance, communications and the launches themselves, part of making Europe more self-sufficient on satellite- and rocket launchings.

German company Isar Aerospaces has a launch vehicle under construction. This rocket will be launched between March 19 and April 19, and will carry various types of satellites. Merz and Støre will have a bilateral meeting and a roundtable discussion with Norwegian and German business leaders from the space and defense industries.

The use of satellites is crucial for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, maritime safety and the management of natural disasters. Not least, satellites are of crucial importance for national security and defense capability. Norway and Germany have close cooperation in this field, and I look forward to discussing and developing this further with the Chancellor says Jonas Gahr Støre.

Merz and Støre at the Andøya launching site on the coast just south of Andesnes. Photo: Martin Siewartz Nielsen / Kunnskapsdepartementet

Nordic-Canadian Prime Ministers’ Meeting

On Saturday, Carney and Støre watched the famous 50 km long-run ski competition together in Holmenkollen, Oslo.

On Sunday, Støre invites to a Nordic-Canadian prime minister meeting in Oslo. Prime Minister Carney and all five Nordic prime ministers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway will participate.

In a time of great international uncertainty, it is important to strengthen cooperation between Canada, Norway and the Nordic countries. We will talk about the geopolitical situation, security in the Arctic and cooperation between our countries, says Støre.