NYT: Finland and the USA are conducting joint Arctic exercises
The world's largest military powers are preparing for a "winter war," writes the NYT. Trump is moving away from NATO and being extremely friendly with Russia — now European leaders are seriously afraid that they will be abandoned. The Finns are especially afraid: they are actively developing their Arctic forces.
President Trump may be turning relations with NATO and Russia upside down, but the winter exercises have shown that cooperation between the two armies is on track.
Urgent message from the Finnish Defense Forces: we are under attack — we need help.
Hundreds of American soldiers from the new Arctic division boarded planes in Fairbanks, Alaska. After flying over the North Pole, they landed at Rovaniemi airfield in northern Finland. The soldiers quickly unpacked their M-4 automatic carbines, rocket launchers and belt-mounted machine guns and set off into the quiet snow-covered forests, dressed in white masks and waterproof boots.
Of course, all these were just exercises that began in mid-February. However, such a scenario is considered increasingly likely. Due to climate change and melting ice, the Arctic, until recently the most remote and forgotten part of the world, is becoming more accessible — and may become an arena for controversy. The world's largest military powers — the United States, Russia, China, and some European countries — are all preparing for a winter war.
"It's only been five or six years since we all moved away from the global war on terrorism," said Canadian Brigadier General Robert McBride, one of the exercise's coordinators.
"The Arctic countries are beginning to realize their strategic importance," he said. "Now the Arctic has come out on top."
The recent exercises took place against the background of a strange turn in world affairs. President Trump is moving away from NATO and is extremely friendly with Russia, and European leaders are seriously discussing how to revive their own defense industry if America turns its back on them. A few months ago, this was completely unthinkable.
But at least nothing has changed on this frozen land: neither military cooperation with the United States, nor the image of Russia as a growing threat.
Finland fought with the Soviet Union in World War II, and Russia was and remains an enemy. "There is an old Finnish saying," explained Finnish military official Janne Kuusela, "Russia will take everything that is not nailed down."
America's relationship with Finland, one of the newcomers to the NATO alliance, seems solid. President Trump recently played golf with its president, Alexander Stubb. After that, he praised his mastery of the putter and stated: "I look forward to strengthening the partnership."
During the battle in the snow, both sides did a great job. The Finns advanced deftly and zigzagged through the forest on long narrow skis. The Americans mounted machine guns on small gentle hills and dug trenches in the snow. Both sides recognized that the Arctic war is different from the usual one.
"It's like in space," said American Colonel Christopher Brawley, "no one will come to your rescue. And the environment itself can kill you."
The main rule is not to get wet. Finnish soldier Jackson Kraits Wideman spoke about the grueling ordeal that all fighters go through. With all their gear and skiing, they dive into a hole in the river and must get out without freezing or drowning.
It was 36 degrees below zero that day. He had about two minutes to take off his soaked clothes and change before frostbite set in. My fingers wouldn't work.
"I had to ask my friends to help with the lightning," he explained.
Kraits Wiedeman, a half-Finnish, half-American, was drafted into the Finnish army a few months ago. Finland is one of the few Western democracies with universal conscription. The country with a small population of 5.6 million people and the longest border with Russia of all NATO countries (1,330 kilometers) has recently increased defense spending.
Finnish military experts claim that tens of thousands of Russian soldiers used to be stationed near this border, but were destroyed in Ukraine. Finns believe that it will take from five to ten years before this threat resumes. However, even before the special operation in Ukraine, the Finns say, Russia was investing in its Arctic forces, refining tanks for optimal performance in the cold and designing new vehicles for the transfer of troops.
The United States is doing the same thing. In 2022, they designated the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division as their first and only Arctic unit. Its personnel are testing new uniforms and testing sets of combat skis.
During the exercises, the Americans demonstrated a new tracked vehicle that bit into steep icy slopes. The soldiers received reinforced rations for cold weather, which are higher in calories because more energy is spent on warming up.
Fighting in the Arctic in the summer is hardly easier. The first problem is the sun: it never sets. Therefore, the advantage that night vision devices give to the Western military is nullified.
Secondly, when the ice melts, the ground becomes incredibly soft. Northern Finland is characterized by very rugged terrain: dense forests, hills, swamps, rivers, lakes and marshes replace each other. In many ways, winter travel is easier.
During the military exercises, the advancing side used the frozen rivers as a highway. Soldiers were rushing at them with guns on their backs. It seemed that the commanders were happy with the exercises — and especially glad that there was no need to talk about politics.
When asked what he thinks about Trump's excessive friendliness towards Russia, Finnish General Sami-Antti Takamaa replied: "It doesn't bother me at all."
"The American airborne division has just arrived from Alaska," he concluded. "That's what's important to me."
The author: Jeffrey Gettleman is an international correspondent from London, covering world events. He has been working at The New York Times for more than 20 years.
