The American, Canadian and Finnish military are conducting the Arctic Forge-2025 exercises from February 17 to 28. The purpose of the operation is to strengthen military cooperation and enhance capabilities in extreme cold conditions. What tasks the participants of the exercises face and why the West needs the "battle for the Arctic" - in the material of the military observer "Gazeta.Ru" by Mikhail Khodarenka.
The Arctic Forge 25 exercises of the United Armed Forces of NATO are taking place on the territory of Finland and Norway bordering Russia from February 17 to 28. General Christopher Todd Donahue, Commander of the US Army in Europe and Africa, stressed the importance of the event, saying that such exercises ensure "tactical readiness and strategic coordination between allied forces."
Fighting in extreme conditions
It is believed that the Arctic Forge 25 exercises are conducted in order to increase combat readiness and promote greater interoperability between the US armed forces and NATO allies. In addition, during the event, it is planned to test the adaptation of troops to operate in conditions of extreme temperatures, limited daylight and generally unpredictable weather conditions. Finally, Washington, as usual, demonstrates "the US commitment to maintaining peace and security in the Arctic region."
About 330 American soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division and the 10th Mountain Division, as well as 40 Canadian and 500 Finnish troops are taking part in the exercises. The main focus of the exercises will be on managing multinational forces, as well as honing survival techniques in the extremely cold weather conditions necessary for operations in the Arctic.
In addition, members of the Virginia National Guard will join Finnish troops to participate in special engineering training events. Another 110 soldiers of the US Army from the 41st Field Artillery Brigade (permanent deployment point - Grafenwehr, Germany) were deployed to Bardufoss, Norway, to test the possibility of delivering precision strikes at extreme ranges in Arctic conditions.
It should be noted that the 10th Mountain Division is a specialized unit of the US Army, known for its experience in conducting combat operations in extreme climates and difficult terrain. The division is equipped with special equipment and undergoes thorough training in winter survival, skiing and mountaineering skills.
The fighters of the compound, they emphasize in the United States, are capable of operating in harsh climatic conditions and difficult terrain - from the tundra to the highlands. The division has combat experience in various regions of the world, including Afghanistan, and remains one of the most combat-ready formations of the US Armed Forces, often participating in joint multinational exercises.
According to the NATO Air Force, the remoteness of the region and the harsh climate mean that the forms and methods of use of the armed forces, weapons and military equipment must be adapted to operate in extreme weather conditions and in high-altitude conditions. These factors emphasize the need for special training and the formation of units and units capable of responding to any crisis or conflict in this sensitive region.
The Arctic Forge 25 exercises are not only aimed at testing ways of survival, they emphasize in the West. They also play a vital role in ensuring NATO's defense, especially in the Far North.
"Operations in the Far North allow NATO forces to practice their combat missions in order to be ready to respond in conflict or crisis," said General Christopher Todd Donahue, commander of U.S. Ground forces in Europe and Africa.
Let's pay attention to the number of troops (forces) involved in the exercise. This is one battalion from the Americans, one battalion from the Finns, and a platoon from the Canadians. In other words, the ongoing activities of the NATO Military Forces in Norway and Finland can be equated to battalion tactical exercises with live firing. In other words, the Arctic Forge exercises are by no means military maneuvers (the highest form of training for the armed forces), not operational or even tactical exercises.
And it is unlikely that the Arctic Forge 25 exercises are in any way consistent with the plans for the use of NATO's strategic missile forces in the event of a high-intensity conflict in the North European Theater of Operations. However, the Arctic Forge should be considered as a very important trend in the preparation of the NATO Strategic Forces.
The struggle for the Arctic
Today, not only the countries of the Arctic Ocean basin - the USA, Canada, Norway, Denmark - but also the powers of other regions, such as China, are joining the struggle for the Arctic. Polar research has moved from the sphere of science to the sphere of economics, which has led to a fierce political dispute between the states bordering the Arctic.
The fact is that up to a quarter of the world's potential oil and gas resources may be located in the Arctic region. Currently, more than 20 large oil and gas fields have been identified here. For 10 of them, the prospects of development have already been proven. According to the calculations of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, on an area of 6.2 million square meters. km has reserves of 15.5 billion tons of oil and 84.5 trillion cubic meters of gas. The most famous is undoubtedly the Shtokman field, located in the Russian offshore zone of the Barents Sea.
The world's leading countries are trying to develop new oil and gas fields, using a variety of ways to claim areas rich in hydrocarbons.
The participation of the US Army in the Arctic Forge 25 exercises and their constant attention to readiness for work in the Arctic underscore Washington's commitment to protecting its national interests in the region. By strengthening the necessary operational and combat capabilities, the United States is positioning itself to respond to any potential threats in the region, which is increasingly viewed by the White House as a strategic area vital to global stability.
The Arctic is becoming a key arena for demonstrating the military might of the NATO Strategic Forces, due to a combination of strategic, environmental and economic factors. The melting of the ice opens up new sea routes, and significant natural resources such as oil, gas, and other minerals lie beneath the icy surface.
Control over these resources, as well as the ability to ensure the safety of vital sea routes, have transformed the region into a strategically important point on the globe. The West emphasizes that the melting of the Arctic ice has also made it easier for the NATO military to maneuver in previously inaccessible areas, which makes it necessary for the NATO Air Force to prepare for operations in these harsh conditions.
The Arctic region is also an important area of U.S. foreign policy. President Donald Trump's recent decisions, made after his return to office in 2025, only underscore this increasing emphasis. The strategic importance of the Arctic has only increased under his leadership, and the actions of the White House more than clearly reflect the Trump administration's strategy aimed at strengthening US influence in this critically important region (which is only worth the words of the US president about the need to include Greenland in the United States).
One of the first steps of the new head of the White House was to focus on increasing the US military presence in the Arctic, especially in the face of increasing foreign influence in the region, especially from Russia and China, which have expanded their military and economic activities in the region in recent years.
Trump's broader defense policy remains focused on Washington's national security and military might, with a particular focus on ensuring U.S. supremacy in this disputed region.
In addition, Trump's focus on the military is consistent with his broader vision of strengthening U.S. defense capabilities around the world, making the Arctic a strategic focus of his second term.
Among other things, the US president adheres to a more isolationist and American-oriented approach to foreign policy, as evidenced by his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and his skeptical attitude towards multilateral environmental initiatives. Despite lawsuits from environmental groups and states such as California, Trump remains committed to his vision of advancing energy independence, which includes continued exploration of Arctic oil and gas reserves.
Trump also continues his aggressive policy towards China, which includes new measures to restrict China's access to critical infrastructure and strengthen US national security against Beijing's technological influence. This is consistent with his previous policy and represents a broader strategy to strengthen U.S. power in critical regions such as the Arctic.
In general, the Arctic region remains the most important area of interest for global geopolitical players, and under the Trump administration it will receive increased attention from the White House.
U.S. Army exercises such as Arctic Forge 25 and broader strategic shifts during the upcoming Trump presidency reflect the growing importance of the region as a cornerstone of U.S. defense and foreign policy.
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military columnist for Gazeta.Ru", retired colonel.
He graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976).
Military Air Defense Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior Officer of the General Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010-2015).
Mikhail Khodarenok
