Assets from 14 NATO allies have come together for Exercise Cold Response 26 (CORE26), ten days of joint manoeuvres in the High North.
The 11 days of drills started yesterday (Monday) and are being run out of the Norwegian-U.S. headquarters established at Reitan, near Bodø, Norway. A key component of NATO’s enhanced vigilance activity Arctic Sentry, the twin aims of the biennial Cold Response exercises are deterrence and honing allies’ defence capabilities in Arctic conditions.
In addition to the hosts, this year about 25,000 troops from 13 other nations are participating: Belgium; Canada; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Italy; the Netherlands; Sweden; Spain; Türkiye; the United States; and the United Kingdom.
The exercises themselves, while mostly centred in and off the coast of Norway, also stretch into neighbouring Finland. Synthetic simulated elements are being conducted in parallel with the live drills. They represent Norway’s largest military exercise in 2026.
Among the British troops taking part are specialist Shore Reconnaissance Troop (SRT) Royal Marines, who have been conducting discreet reconnaissance missions in the build-up to CORE26, as per a Royal Navy press statement.
The SRT commandos are trained to access and covertly study coastal regions to select the optimal sites for large-scale landings.
“As an advance force, this winter training ensures SRT are capable of projecting combat power from the sea, securing beachheads, and establishing critical footholds in austere or contested environments, providing follow-on forces with a decisive tactical advantage,” said the Officer in Command (OC) of the SRT.
- You can read more details on the Norwegian Armed Forces website and on the Royal Navy website