More than 25,000 soldiers from 14 NATO countries began military exercises Monday across northern Norway and Finland, simulating a war against a fictitious enemy as part of the alliance’s efforts to bolster its presence in the strategically vital Arctic region.

The maneuvers, dubbed ‘Cold Response 2026’ and running until March 19, involve land, sea, and air operations in Norway’s Troms and Nordland regions as well as northern Finland.

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According to the Norwegian Defense Ministry, the exercises aim to strengthen the defensive capacity of NATO and Norway on the northern flank and contribute to credible deterrence.

The initiative was launched amid heightened tensions triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated statements expressing interest in either acquiring Greenland or pursuing military intervention there. Those tensions have since subsided—at least temporarily—following a late January accord between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to bolster regional security.

Both Denmark and Greenland have expressed willingness to deepen military cooperation with Washington while maintaining respect for Danish territorial integrity and Greenland’s right to self-determination.

The Norwegian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is scheduled to visit the ‘Cold Response 2026’ exercise zone Monday and Tuesday.

Participating nations include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Spain, Italy, Turkiye, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Belgium, alongside host country Norway.

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