NATO conducts large-scale exercises in the Arctic.

(CLO) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) began its biennial military exercises in the Arctic region on March 9.

The exercise, codename Cold Response, will take place from March 9 to 19, focusing on protecting the European Arctic region. This area is strategically important as two NATO members, Norway and Finland, share a border with Russia.

This year's activity is also part of the Arctic Sentry initiative, NATO's strategy to strengthen its military presence in the Arctic region.

Approximately 25,000 soldiers from 14 countries, including the United States and Denmark, are expected to participate in this year's exercise, primarily in northern Norway and Finland. The United States will contribute around 4,000 soldiers.

Gunners aboard the KNM Thor Heyerdahl off the coast of Harstad, Norway. Photo: Norwegian Ministry of Defence .

A notable aspect of this year's exercise is the participation and preparation of civilian forces. Norway has declared 2026 as the year of "total defense," aiming to enhance the readiness of citizens, businesses, and public institutions against the threat of war or other disasters.

Major General Lars Lervik, Commander of the Norwegian Army, stated that the military needs the support of the entire society to fulfill its mission of defending the country.

According to him, the exercise also provided an opportunity to test scenarios in which civilians could directly support military operations, such as the medical system having to receive and treat a large number of wounded soldiers, including Norwegian and allied personnel.

As part of the exercise, the Norwegian army plans to conduct a scenario on March 13th to test the ability of hospitals in the north of the country to receive and treat a large number of wounded soldiers transported from a simulated front line in Finland.

The exercise took place against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's assertion that the US needed to control Greenland to counter the growing strategic interests of Russia and China in the Arctic, and that Denmark was not capable of ensuring the island's security. However, both the Danish government and the Greenland authorities maintained that the island was not for sale.

Before the exercise began, the US military withdrew a squadron of F-35 fighter jets from the operation. The US did not say whether the conflict situation in the Middle East influenced this decision.

Source: https://congluan.vn/nato-tap-tran-quy-mo-lon-o-bac-cuc-10332836.html