The United Kingdom, alongside its partners in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), is conducting military exercises in Norway, simulating a response scenario to a potential Russian attack. British military strategists travelled to the city of Bodø, located north of the Arctic Circle in Norway, to refine a course of action should Russia initiate hostile activities in the region. Leaders from Nordic and Baltic nations were tasked with establishing an algorithm for response in the event of pro-Russian unrest, reports The WP Times with reference to Politico.
The JEF, comprising ten nations, was initiated by the UK following Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea, specifically to prepare for threats emerging on Europe’s northern flank. The operational philosophy of the JEF centers on its capacity to act rapidly, contrasting with NATO, which requires the consensus of 32 member states, significantly prolonging reaction time.
Major General Geert Lage Dyndal of the Norwegian Army emphasized that the Russian threat in the Arctic is not a new phenomenon, noting its historical connection to the enduring nuclear standoff between the United States and Russia. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the critical need for a coordinated response, particularly in addressing hybrid warfare—an "evolving phenomenon across Europe over the last few years"—citing examples such as the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, increased drone activity, and maritime border violations.
As Politico points out, the melting of Arctic ice is opening previously inaccessible seas, thereby intensifying regional competition and drawing in global powers like China and the USA.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey, who participated in the military drills in Norway this week, stated that in the Nordic nations, "Russian aggression is an everyday fact of life." He further asserted: “They live next to a Russian military presence. We are the nations best placed to assess the risks, best placed to respond to the threats, and best placed to make sure NATO takes this seriously.”
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