British troops to head to the Arctic in preparation for war with Russia

The British Defence Secretary John Healey has said thousands more British troops will be sent to the Arctic to prepare for war with Russia.

Healey said British soldiers will head to Norway’s Camp Viking and troop numbers will double from 1,000 to 2,000 over the coming three years.

The Defence Secretary said at Camp Viking he will commit the UK Armed Forces to NATO’s Arctic Sentry.

This will boost NATO’s defence’s against Russian aggression and will provide reassurance to the US President with security guarantees for Greenland.

Healey said, “Demands on defence are rising, and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War.

“We see Putin rapidly re-establishing military presence in the region, including reopening old Cold War bases.

“The UK is stepping up to protect the Arctic and High North – doubling the number of troops we have in Norway and scaling up joint exercises with NATO allies.

Cold Response and Lion Protector will this year see thousands of troops deploy across the Arctic and North Atlantic – with the UK leading the way.

“We train together, we deter together, and if necessary, we will fight together.”

The Ministry of Defence said in a statement, that military exercises across Sweden, Finland and Norway will “enhance allied ability to defend strategically important locations across fjords and mountains.”

General Sir Nick Carter has called for more support to deter Vladimir Putin and to provide more support to Ukraine.

In a paper written for the Tony Blair Institute ahead of this year’s Munich Security Conference, Sir Nick gave a five-point plan, a response to Russian sabotage, Europe has to be less reliant on the US and to build public trust in building the military.

General Carter said, “Europe faces a growing external threat in an evolving world order at the same time as its political, fiscal and industrial systems are struggling to respond. After decades of under-investment in defence, this is no longer merely inefficient – it is dangerous.

“The path ahead for Europe’s leaders will not be easy; they cannot afford to fail. Drift is no longer a neutral option.

“Europe’s influence will depend on its ability to take rapid collective action. A Europe that can do so – and take responsibility for its own defence and security – will remain a shaper of the international order. A Europe that cannot, will be shaped by others.”