British troops join thousands of allies in Norway's largest military exercise
British soldiers have joined 20,000 Norwegian and allied troops in Exercise Joint Viking, Norway's largest military exercise this year.
Exercise Joint Viking normally takes place in March every two years, but was cancelled in 2021 due to Covid-19.
Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters and Exercise Joint Viking, Lieutenant General Yngve Odlo, said: "The war in Ukraine has shown us that you cannot take good preparedness for granted.
"Preparedness is a fresh commodity, and must be maintained regularly. We do that every day through our daily operations and exercises like this.
"Together, we strengthen our ability to operate in our sometimes-harsh arctic climate. This knowledge can only be acquired by being here in proper winter conditions.
"Gaining this experience, provides security for Norway and for our population."
Over the next two weeks, 20,000 Norwegian and allied troops will train alongside one another to practise defending the country which is seen as the northern flank of Nato.
The field exercise lasts from 6 to 16 March, but some of the allied forces arrived in Norway in January and February to prepare for the exercise and there will be some activity afterwards until the participating forces have returned home.
Most of the land-based activities are taking place in the Troms region in northern Norway, particularly along the axis Bjerkvik–Setermoen–Bardufoss–Nordkjosbotn, and there will also be substantial activity at sea and in the air.
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