The United Kingdom is doubling its troop presence in Norway as concerns grow over potential Russian aggression in the Arctic, officials announced Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The move underscores increasing Western anxieties about Moscow’s military buildup in the region.
The official announcement of the troop increase is scheduled to coincide with a visit by British Defence Secretary John Healey to Camp Viking in Northern Norway, where he will meet with British soldiers stationed there.
“The UK is stepping up the protection of the Arctic and the High North by doubling the number of soldiers we have in Norway and increasing joint exercises with our NATO allies,” Healey said in a statement.
Healey also asserted that Russia poses the greatest threat to the Arctic and the High North that has been seen since the Cold War.
“We are seeing Putin rapidly re-establishing a military presence in the region, including reopening old bases from the Cold War,” he said. The increased military activity is prompting a reassessment of defense strategies in the area, with NATO bolstering its presence to deter potential conflict.
