The UK doubles number of troops in Norway
One day ahead of NATO’s launch of its so-called Arctic Sentry, the UK defence minister announced that the number of British troops training in Norway will be increased to 2,000.
“So I am here deep in the Arctic, in Norway, it is my fourth visit as defence minister to Norway and each time I come I see the evidence of a deeper and deeper partnership between our two nations,” UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey said in a statement on social media.
Healey was on a visit to the north Norwegian Troms region together with Norwegian colleague Tore O. Sandvik. The two countries are in the process of lifting defence cooperation to a historically high level.
“Today I am announcing that we’re doubling the number of UK troops training in these harsh conditions combining our mission planning and our rehearsal with the Norwegians,” Healey said.
The growing commitments in the region comes after the UK and Norway signed the historical Lunna House defence cooperation agreement in December 2025.
According to the Norwegian Defence Minister Sandvik, the British forces will be in Norway on rotational level.
Following the bilateral talks in Troms, the two ministers headed towards Brussels where they will take part in the NATO defence minister’s meeting. Plans for a so-called Arctic Sentry are on the table.
According to General Secretary Mark Rutte, the Arctic Sentry will be a ‘multi-domain activity’ that is to “bolster security in the Arctic and High North.”
It will be led by Joint Force Command Norfolk and contribute to “bringing together NATO and Allied activities into one, overarching operational approach.”
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: With cooperation under strain, Canada joins partners in defending the Arctic Council’s future, Eye on the Arctic
Denmark: Denmark, Greenland leaders meet Merz, heading to Paris to shore up support, Reuters
Finland: Greenland clash left a mark on EU-US relations says Finnish PM, Yle News
Greenland: New Italy Arctic policy adds U.S. Greenland ambitions to growing Arctic competition narrative, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: NATO chief to Arctic Allies: “We’re all frontline states now,” as Iceland’s role grows, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: “We want to be Europe’s most integrated region in terms of defence”, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia claims first-ever North Pole aerial refuelling, TASS reports, Reuters
Sweden: Swedish military intelligence on the great power rivalry over Greenland, Radio Sweden
United States: Rubio says technical talks with Denmark, Greenland officials over Arctic security have begun, The Associated Press
