Image: from Daniel | Swe X@D2Cerberus
By Open Chronicle News Desk
STUTTGART, GERMANY – Thousands of U.S. Marines and specialized military units are deploying to the high north this week to begin preparations for “Cold Response 26,” a massive Norwegian-led NATO exercise. The mobilization occurs as the alliance navigates one of its most turbulent periods in decades, triggered by President Donald Trump’s aggressive diplomatic push for control over Greenland.
Despite the political friction between Washington and its European allies, military officials insist that the operational readiness of the alliance remains the top priority. Approximately 3,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, are joining a force of 25,000 personnel from 14 nations—including Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Finland—to test NATO’s ability to defend its northern flank.
Suomi osallistuu Cold Response 26 -harjoitukseen maaliskuussa. 🇫🇮🛡️
Harjoituksessa testataan arktista puolustuskykyä ja liittolaisten vastaanottoa Suomeen yhdessä #Nato-liittolaisten kanssa. ❄️🤝Lue lisää: https://t.co/69eKBntVSU#puolustusvoimat #ColdResponse26 pic.twitter.com/gSIFEXY07l
— Puolustusvoimat (@Puolustusvoimat) January 7, 2026
Strategic Resilience in the High North
“This exercise is about more than just technology; it’s about forging the habits of discipline and trust that define true combat readiness,” stated Maj. Gen. Farrell J. Sullivan, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division.
While President Trump used his recent address at the World Economic Forum in Davos to reiterate that he “won’t use force” to acquire Greenland, the shadow of his proposed “Arctic framework” looms large over the drills. Military analysts suggest that the deployment serves a dual purpose: deterring Russian expansionism in the Arctic while reassuring nervous NATO partners that the U.S. remains committed to collective defense, even as it challenges the territorial status quo.
Tänään alkavat valmiusyksiköiden harjoitukset käynnistävät alkuvuoden harjoituskokonaisuutemme. Kokonaisuus huipentuu maaliskuussa Cold Response 26 -harjoitukseen, jossa noin 3500 suomalaista harjoittelee yhdessä 4000 liittolaisen kanssa Rovajärvellä: https://t.co/opHyZ92P3b
— Maavoimat (@Maavoimat) January 19, 2026
Multi-Domain Deterrence
Cold Response 26 is set to be a comprehensive “multi-domain” operation, coordinating military effects across land, sea, air, cyber, and space. In addition to the Marine contingents, the U.S. is deploying Navy Seabee detachments, special operations units, and a sophisticated air package including F-35A Lightning IIs and HH-60W Jolly Green IIs.
The exercises are specifically designed for the “harsh winter conditions” of Northern Norway and Finland, environments that have become increasingly strategic as melting ice opens new shipping lanes and access to vast mineral resources—the very assets that have fueled the current dispute over Greenland’s sovereignty.
A Backdrop of Uncertainty
The drills begin just hours after President Trump announced a temporary suspension of tariffs on European goods following a “framework deal” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. However, with the U.S. administration still signaling an intent to pursue “right, title, and ownership” of Greenland, the atmosphere among the participating troops from the Kingdom of Denmark is reportedly one of cautious vigilance.
As 25,000 soldiers prepare to move across the Arctic Circle in March, the military exercise will serve as a critical test of whether the NATO “habits of trust” can survive the most significant strain on transatlantic relations since the Cold War.