Setermoen, Norway. (January 17, 2025): One of the founding members of NATO, Norway will once again host U.S. Marines and other allies in Exercise Joint Viking 2025 scheduled for March. In this photo by Lance Corporal Christian Salazar, Marines maneuver with their Norwegian counterparts as they prepare for the bi-annual event. The exercise will involve cold-weather combat operations focusing on small-unit tactics and defensive operations in extreme environments.
The II Marine Expeditionary Force deployed from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in January to acclimate to the harsh Nordic environment and terrain. The Army will be sending the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, a HIMARs unit, to Norway in the spring. Troops from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Finland will also participate.
Joint Viking 2025 is part of NATO’s Northern Flank Strategic Plan to defend the Arctic region against an attack by Russia. There is currently a significant Russian military presence in the Arctic, including air and naval forces armed with advanced weaponry. NATO’s plan is to strengthen its military presence, improve infrastructure like bases and airfields, and to develop close coordination between Norway, Sweden, and Finland. To this end, the alliance has deployed more troops, naval vessels, and aircraft to the Norwegian and Baltic Seas. Member countries have also enhanced their air and missile defense systems and their ability to track Russian naval activity. On land, NATO countries are upgrading ports, building airfields, and establishing procedures to facilitate rapid reinforcement in an emergency.
The United States currently operates from seven military bases in Norway to facilitate America’s response to any attack on the NATO alliance.