Joint Viking 2025: 10,000 Soldiers From 9 Nations Exercise Defending Northern Norway
!["Given today's security landscape in Europe and the rest of the world, preparedness and well-trained military forces are more important than ever. This is especially true for a long and strategically located country like Norway," says the Norwegian Armed Forces about the exercise Joint Viking 2025. Here, a soldier of the US Army’s 41st Field Artillery Brigade conducts operations at Setermoen, Northern Norway, as part of the exercise. (Photo: Sar Paw/US Army)](/sites/default/files/styles/media_image/public/2025-03/8896902.jpg?itok=3MKZVojy ""Given today's security landscape in Europe and the rest of the world, preparedness and well-trained military forces are more important than ever. This is especially true for a long and strategically located country like Norway," says the Norwegian Armed Forces about the exercise Joint Viking 2025. Here, a soldier of the US Army’s 41st Field Artillery Brigade conducts operations at Setermoen, Northern Norway, as part of the exercise. (Photo: Sar Paw/US Army)")
"Given today's security landscape in Europe and the rest of the world, preparedness and well-trained military forces are more important than ever. This is especially true for a long and strategically located country like Norway," says the Norwegian Armed Forces about the exercise Joint Viking 2025. Here, a soldier of the US Army’s 41st Field Artillery Brigade conducts operations at Setermoen, Northern Norway, as part of the exercise. (Photo: Sar Paw/US Army)
This year's largest military exercise in Norway kicked off on Monday. Norwegian forces are now practicing on countering military threats in the North – reinforced by allies from Western Europe and North America. "Even more important in light of today’s uncertain security situation," says Deputy Commander of Norway's Joint Headquarters.
The winter exercise Joint Viking, held in Norway biennially, takes place from March 3rd to March 14th.
The main activity takes place in the counties Troms and northern Nordland, Northern Norway – especially on land, but also in the air and at sea.
Major General Gjert Lage Dyndal, Deputy Commander at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. (Photo: Håkon Venge)
In total, more than 10,000 soldiers are participating from nine countries: Norway, Finland, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and the US.
The exercise is led by the Norwegian Joint Headquarters (NJHQ) at Reitan outside of Bodø, Northern Norway.
"Bringing our allies together in arenas like this has become even more important in light of today's uncertain security situation," says Major General Gjert Lage Dyndal, Deputy Commander at the NJHQ, on Monday.
"Joint Viking is an important exercise for us and our allied participants' ability to work well together. Training together in all domains gives us good insight and experience in what works and where we need to develop further to strengthen the defense of Norway and NATO's interests in the north," continues Dyndal.
Norwegian conscripts assigned to Trondenes camp outside Harstad, southern Troms, train on combat techniques in the forest during Joint Viking 2025. (Photo: Nora Steenberg/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
Strained overall context
The current uncertain security situation is particularly linked to the new Trump administration in the United States – namely its security policy statements and actions in relation to Russia and its warfare in Ukraine, as well as in relation to Kyiv, Greenland, Europe and Canada. New US domestic policy measures are also viewed with concern.
On Tuesday, Trump paused all military aid to Ukraine, Reuters informed. The Trump administration has also cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, the Financial Times reported Wednesday.
In Europe, significant questions around the alliance and shared values with the US are being discussed with more intensity. By extension, NATO as an organization is also a subject of discussion.
At the same time, Joint Viking is in many ways an illustration of what we have seen and known in Northern Norway for a long time, including during the first Trump Administration and not least in the last three years: American soldiers are in place to contribute in large-scale exercise on the defense of the region – together with other allied forces – within the overall framework of NATO.
More specifically, these are US Marines deployed from a base in the USA, and US Army soldiers deployed from an American base in Germany.
By the way: US forces have the right to unimpeded access to and use of a total of six military bases and facilities in Northern Norway, following the Norwegian parliament’s ratification of a bilateral Supplementary Defense Cooperation Agreement (SDCA) in 2022 and an amendment agreement in 2024.
Examples of the most recent Norway-US agreed areas, with great relevance to Joint Viking, are Bardufoss air station and Setermoen garrison (incl. firing and exercise range) in inner Troms.
Part of the US 'Defender 2025'
From an American perspective, Joint Viking is part of Defender – the largest US Army exercise in Europe.
"Defender is focused on strategic deployment of continental, US-based forces, employment of US Army prepositioned stocks, and interoperability with Allies and partners at exercise locations across European countries. It seeks to deter adversaries, transform operational mission command, build readiness, and strengthen the NATO Alliance," writes the US Army Europe and Africa (USAFE).
American and other allied forces have also been present in Northern Norway for weeks to conduct cold-weather training before Joint Viking.
"They will be back almost annually to do so, and this training secures our allies' ability to support us when needed," says Dyndal at the NJHQ.
US Marines during cold weather training at Setermoen in inner Troms on February 14th in the run-up to exercise Joint Viking. (Photo: Alfonso Livrieri/the US Marine Corps)
Interoperability with Finland
Central to this year's Joint Viking exercise is the emphasis on Norwegian-Finnish integration in the wake of Finland's NATO membership of April 2023, as well as increasingly closer Nordic defense cooperation, not least in the North.
On March 6th, Norwegian and Finnish forces will demonstrate their ability to cooperate on countering low-altitude air threats in Arctic conditions.
The focus will be on combining land maneuvers with air defense capabilities, ensuring that ground forces can operate effectively in environments with aerial threats, presumably from drones in particular.
These operations will take place at Setermoen, inner Troms. Specifically, the activity involves personnel from the Finnmark Land Command and a Finnish Short Range Air Defense Unit (SHORAD) within the framework of NATO.
The land command has Norway's northernmost county Finnmark, which borders Russia and Finland, as its area of responsibility.
"This cooperation reflects Finland's deeper integration into NATO's defense structures following its membership, as well as Norway’s commitment to strengthening allied defense capabilities in the High North region," states the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Norway must be prepared to take great responsibility for the defense of NATO’s new Northern flank, the Chief of the Norwegian Army pointed out last spring.
During Nordic Response 2024, the last major winter exercise in the High North, Finnish and Swedish forces conducted a historic border crossing from Lapland, Northern Finland, to Finnmark, Northern Norway. (Photo: Arnfinn Sjøenden/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
'A wake-up call'
"We live in a time when it is difficult to predict the situation on the surface, and the stakes appear high. There is talk about an awakening and a revival. This has been the case before," says Finland's Chief of Defense, General Janne Jaakkola.
He then looks back over 100 years in time, specifically in a speech to participants of a Finnish national defense course on Monday.
"At present, the pressure seems to be on transatlantic relations and the strengthening of European security and the defense in NATO and the European Union. We do not yet know what possible military impacts we will see. Until we know, it is good from a soldier's standpoint to continue the ongoing work. We should be working on national security all the time, on the front of the whole of society," continues Jaakkola.
He points out that the defense of Finland rests upon four pillars: strong national capabilities, the alliance's collective defense, deepened defense cooperation, and the principles of comprehensive security and national defense.
"In this new situation, it is clear that Europe must develop its own defense [capabilities, ed. note] more quickly as part of a collective defense. The basis of security and joint defense is always the development of the national defense. Much is expected from Finland now – just as from other European countries. Finland has a lot to bring to the shared tables. We build our security on our own strengths and we will remain relevant as allies and partners," states the Finnish chief of defense.
Finland's Chief of Defense, General Janne Jaakkola, visited Norway just over a month ago. Here, he is pictured in conversation with the Norwegian Chief of Defense, General Eirik Kristoffersen, at the Oslo Military Society. (Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
Battle Handover
· Following the presentation of Norwegian-Finnish integration on March 6th, there will be several demonstrations for the media and other visitors during Joint Viking.
· On March 8, a so-called Battle Handover will be carried out in Gratangen, southern Troms, between, Norwegian forces and US marines, in particular. This is described as a key strategic event with a major physical link-up, marking the beginning of a new phase in Joint Viking for all participants involved.
· “The United States Marine Corps will play a significant role in Joint Viking 25, with forces from II Marine Expeditionary Force deploying from Base Camp Lejeune [North Carolina, ed. note], to demonstrate their ability to operate in the harsh Arctic environment," stated the US Marine Corps on January 15th and continued:
· "The exercise will allow the Marine Corps to rehearse the rapid force generation and trans-Atlantic deployment of a regimental-sized element to respond to a crisis. Their participation highlights the strategic importance of the US Marine Corps in reinforcing NATO’s northern flank and ensuring seamless integration with Norwegian forces."
Significant British participation
The UK, which is considered Norway's closest and most important ally in Europe, is also a particularly important participant in Joint Viking.
"Nearly 2,000 personnel from across the UK Commando Force are operating in Northern Norway's harsh mountainous terrain during Winter Deployment 25, as they underscore the UK's commitment to the defense of the High North," stated the British Navy on January 31st and added:
"The Commandos [the Royal Marines, Commando Helicopter Force, and Army Commandos, ed. note] are currently building up to an exercise that will test allies’ collective ability to defend Norway from invasion. Exercise Joint Viking is about defending the strategically important region."
Camp Viking, located at the Norwegian camp Skjold in inner Troms, is the hub for British forces' winter training and exercise in Northern Norway.
During Joint Viking, the UK will participate with its Littoral Response Group (North), the British Navy announced in January. The group brings together amphibious ships, landing craft, helicopters, and troops under one force for raiding operations from the coast, it was informed.
This task group is set up to respond to crises and incidents on Europe’s strategic waterways and so-called chokepoints. It has a sister group with the same responsibility for the Mediterranean and regions east of the Suez Canal.
Amphibious landing
· On March 7th, allied forces, particularly from the UK and the Netherlands, will practice on conducting a massive amphibious operation in the Malangen fjord in central Troms.
· It will take place in two stages: first, an attack from the sea against land (that is not under allied control in the exercise scenario), followed by the landing of ground forces.
· Amphibious operations of this scale are rarely carried out in Norway. The maneuver is expected to be one of the exercise's largest displays of force, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Here, Norwegian and British forces train on an amphibious operation in the Asta fjord, southern Troms, back in 2020. (Photo: Ole-Sverre Haugli/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
Air defense
· On March 11th, Joint Viking offers presentations of defense cooperation at Evenes Air Station, northern Nordland: A) Norwegian-British base defense cooperation, and B) Norwegian-US P-8 Poseidon collaboration. Cooperation with the UK and the US at Evenes on maritime surveillance in the High North has been in the works since 2023.
· The Norwegian Air Force will also demonstrate the F-35 Quick Reaction Alert (QRA), a mission carried out on behalf of NATO.
One of Norway's Poseidon P-8 maritime patrol aircraft on its way out on a mission from Evenes Air Station in Nordland, the main base for these aircraft. (Photo: Tiril Haslestad/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
Especially central European allies
· Note that the United Kingdom and France, also an important ally of Norway, are the only European states with nuclear forces.
· Also note that Germany, a third significant ally and Europe's largest economy, is participating in the Joint Viking exercise.
· British, French, and German participation in large military exercises in Northern Norway is nothing new, but it sends important signals in a troubled world. In recent times, London and Paris have also hosted key crisis meetings on the Ukraine war and European security.
· Their participation in Joint Viking also follows recently concluded bilateral agreements on defense cooperation with a view to the north, namely between Norway and the UK in December and February; France in January – and Germany in December.
· Not least, it is significant that these three European countries and the US were selected in November as possible strategic partners for Norway's major acquisition of new frigates.
Civil-military coordination
Two total defense exercises in Northern Norway, both within the framework of Joint Viking, will follow on March 11th in Narvik (northern Nordland) and March 12th in Harstad (southern Troms).
Both involve Norway's Armed Forces (especially the Home Guard), police, Civil Defense, primary and specialist health services, fire and rescue services, and other municipal resources for crisis management.
The scenario in Narvik municipality begins with a simulated drone attack on the Norwegian Armed Forces workshop in Bjerkvik, which requires coordinated response efforts from various actors. First, emergency services are received, and evacuation is carried out to the hospital UNN Narvik, with efforts supported by the Civil Defense and the Army's Medical Battalion.
At the same time, the municipality will establish centers for next of kin and evacuation in collaboration with the Civil Defense. The public warning system in Narvik will be triggered, followed by the evacuation of high school students.
In Harstad municipality, two scenarios will be practiced: 1) a simulated attack on evacuees traveling by bus near the Stangnes Camp and 2) a collision between two vehicles at the same camp, one of which is classified as a hostile unit carrying hazardous chemicals.
Both scenarios require and will include cooperation between the aforementioned types of military and civilian emergency response actors. In addition, the civil society organization Norwegian People's Aid and other public agencies that handle CBRN agents (such as chemical substances) will be involved.
Picture from a total defense exercise in Tromsø, Northern Norway, during the exercise Nordic Response 2024. Norway's Home Guard, police, municipal fire service, health services, Civil Defense, and the Norwegian People's Aid trained on a scenario with a mass influx of injured people to the hospital UNN Tromsø. (Photo: Fredrik Ringnes/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
