UK to double troops in Norway, take bigger NATO role in Arctic

Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on February 10, 2026. BEN STANSALL / AFP

Britain announced on Wednesday, February 11, it will boost its troops stationed in Norway and play a "vital" role in a NATO Arctic mission in the face of "rising Russian threats." The United Kingdom's decision to double its troops in Norway from 1,000 to 2,000 in the next three years comes as the United States was set to relinquish two top regional NATO command posts to press allies to take greater responsibility for their defense.

"Arctic and High North security will be strengthened against rising Russian threats as Britain steps up its presence in the region," the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement. Defense Secretary John Healey is set to confirm on a visit to a UK military site in northern Norway that British forces will be involved in NATO's Arctic Sentry mission to bolster security in the region.

Subscribers only

With US eyeing Greenland, NATO faces one of its most crucial tests