NATO’s marines are among the toughest troops in the Alliance. But in the Arctic, tough isn’t enough – marines must be unusually skilled and resilient to survive the freezing temperatures and rugged landscape.
In early 2024, marine forces from several NATO Allies got to test their mettle against the High North, putting their cold weather lessons into practice while learning new tactics from their counterparts during exercise Steadfast Defender 24. Finnish, Italian and Swedish marines worked together to stage amphibious raids on the coast of Norway, while US marines improved their survival skills inland, learning what their Nordic Allies already know: when it comes to deep snow, skis are the only way to get around.
The exercise...
