Cyprus Times

UK Doubles Military Presence in Norway Citing Russian Threat

Published February 11, 2026, 12:14
UK Doubles Military Presence in Norway Citing Russian Threat

The UK has announced it will double its military presence in Norway over the next three years, increasing the number of troops from 1,000 to 2,000. This move is justified by the perceived growing threat from Russia in the Arctic region. British Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic security since the Cold War. The increased military presence includes the participation of British forces in the Arctic Sentry mission, a NATO program aimed at strengthening security in the area. The Arctic has emerged as a point of geopolitical interest, as demonstrated by former US President Donald Trump's interest in purchasing Greenland. This decision comes at a time when Europe is being called upon to take greater responsibility for its own security. The UK and Norway have already signed a new defence cooperation agreement, which includes joint management of a fleet of frigates to counter Russian submarines in the North Atlantic. This fleet will patrol critical sea areas, such as between Greenland, Iceland and the UK, with the aim of protecting underwater infrastructure, such as electricity cables and gas pipelines, which are vital to Europe's energy security. Norway has already ordered Type 26 frigates from the UK, in an investment of 11.5 billion euros.