Commandos from the Royal Marines have deployed into the Arctic Circle as part of a new joint security arrangement between the U.K. and Norway.
The recent Lunna House Agreement signed by the two nations will now see the Royal Marines operating in Norway year-round, extending their existing annual winter deployments.
As per a Royal Navy press statement, this winter about 1,500 personnel, plus all-terrain vehicles and helicopters, are returning to Camp Viking, the operations hub established in Øverbygd, about 40 miles south of Tromsø, in 2023.
The fighters will train along the coastlines and mountains of northern Norway and in March are set to participate in NATO Exercise Cold Response — the largest military manoeuvres planned in the country during 2026.
Cold Response will see U.K. forces work in tandem with their Norwegian hosts and also marines from the Netherlands.
Commanding Officer 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group Lieutenant Colonel Chris Armstrong commented: “The U.K. Commando Force is stepping up readiness to war-fight alongside our allies in the High North.
“As NATO’s cold-weather specialists, we are ruthlessly focussed on mission rehearsals with our closest partners. Fusing intelligence, bold commando tactics, and cutting-edge technology – we remain poised for operations.”
Wildcats and Merlins from the Yeovilton-based Commando Helicopter Force are also deploying to Royal Norwegian Air Force base Bardufoss, 20 miles west of Camp Viking, for Operation Clockwork, an annual Arctic training exercise.
Under the Lunna House Agreement the U.K. and Norway are cooperating on weapons and programmes for uncrewed mine-hunting and undersea warfare systems, as well as undersea autonomous vehicles and an interchangeable fleet of Type 26 frigates.
- You can read more details on the Royal Navy website