F-35 fighter jets are landing at Evenes Air Station in Northern Norway, as the U.S. And NATO allies conduct military exercises designed to prepare for a potential Russian attack. The exercises, dubbed Cold Response, began on March 9th, 2026, and involve more than 32,000 troops from across the alliance, according to reporting from NPR News.
The drills come as Russia has increased its military activity in the Arctic, and amid warnings from Norwegian defense officials that Russia could invade Norway to protect its nuclear assets. Russia’s Northern Fleet issued warnings of planned missile firings in the Barents Sea, coinciding with the start of the Cold Response exercise, according to the Barents Observer. The Russian Northern Fleet Notam (notice to airmen) was active from March 11-13, indicating “missile firings” in a section of the Barents Sea that overlaps with Norway’s exclusive economic zone.
Norwegian Air Force personnel at Evenes Air Station report shadowing Russian war planes flying above the Norwegian coast, with the aircraft’s transponders switched off. Sergeant Aleksander Hage stated that the Norwegian Air Force anticipated this activity, noting the Russian planes originated from the Kola Peninsula, a key military hub for Moscow. The exercises are intended to test NATO’s ability to respond to an attack on Norway, invoking Article 5 – the principle of collective defense – and to assess the challenges of operating in the Arctic environment.
The exercises are part of a broader NATO operation, Arctic Sentry, created following statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding perceived Russian and Chinese threats to Greenland. However, former Danish intelligence officer Jacob Kaarsbo dismissed Trump’s claims, stating there had been limited Russian or Chinese naval activity near Greenland in recent years. Despite these statements, Kaarsbo acknowledged the value of practicing responses to broader Russian threats to Europe.
U.S. Marine Corps forces participating in Cold Response are gaining experience operating in extreme cold weather conditions and testing the functionality of their equipment in an Arctic environment. Major General Daniel Shipley emphasized the unique training opportunities provided by the exercise, stating it allows forces to learn how their systems perform and communicate in the challenging conditions. The scenario included a simulated mass casualty event, testing Norway’s emergency response system with a mock train arriving from Finland carrying injured soldiers.
NATO also operates a Combined Air Operation Centre in Bodø, Norway, enhancing the alliance’s ability to plan and coordinate operations, according to a NATO press release. The alliance is increasing its military presence in northern Norway as Russia expands activity across the Arctic, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
The Svalbard archipelago, a Norwegian territory, is also a point of contention, with Russia challenging Norway’s sovereignty over the islands, according to the Arctic Institute. The military drills aim to deter potential threats and reassure allies amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region.
Following a realistically planned simulation of a frontline attack, a small memorial ceremony was held for a deceased soldier, led by chaplain Peter Shaw Wilhelmsson. Wilhelmsson noted the exercise was so realistic that a discussion session would be held afterward to support those affected by the simulation.
