Royal Marines Return to the Arctic: Strengthening NATO's Northern Flan

As geopolitical tensions persist in the High North, the Royal Marines are ramping up their presence in the Arctic Circle, marking a new chapter in joint operations with Norway to bolster NATO's defences.

A landmark agreement — known as the Lunna House Agreement, named after the WWII Shetland base for Norwegian resistance operations — enables the UK's Commando Force, spearheaded by the Royal Marines, to maintain a year-round presence in Norway. This expands beyond traditional seasonal winter deployments, deepening military cooperation between the two nations.

Key elements of the partnership include joint investments in advanced capabilities: uncrewed mine-hunting systems, undersea warfare technologies, autonomous patrol vehicles, and an integrated fleet of Type 26 frigates. These efforts aim to enhance deterrence and operational effectiveness in one of the world's harshest environments — the Norwegian Arctic.

Royal is ideally positioned for this role.

Their expertise dates back over 50 years, with roots in daring WWII commando raids against Nazi-occupied Norway.

In 2023, the UK established Camp Viking in Øverbygd (about 40 miles south of Tromsø) as a permanent operations hub. This year, around 1,500 personnel are deploying there, equipped with all-terrain vehicles and supported by helicopters from the Commando Helicopter Force.

The commandos will train across Northern Norway's rugged coastlines, fjords, and mountains, culminating in Exercise Cold Response 2026 — Norway's largest military exercise of the year. This major NATO event will showcase allied unity and the ability to counter threats in the High North, involving close collaboration with Norwegian forces and Dutch marines.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Armstrong, Commanding Officer of 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group, emphasized the focus:

“The UK Commando Force is stepping up readiness to war-fight alongside our allies in the High North. As NATO’s cold-weather specialists, we are ruthlessly focussed on mission rehearsals with our closest partners. Fusing intelligence, bold commando tactics, and cutting-edge technology – we remain poised for operations.”

Over the past six years, the Commando Force has modernized significantly, incorporating AI-enabled targeting, multi-domain fires, uncrewed surface vessels, and stronger alliances to retain its edge in Arctic operations. The Lunna House framework accelerates this evolution, providing NATO with a qualitative advantage in the region.

Meanwhile, the Yeovilton-based Commando Helicopter Force — operating Commando Wildcat and Merlin helicopters — conducts annual Arctic training at Norway's Bardufoss Air Force base under Operation Clockwork.

Just a short helicopter hop (or a longer drive) from Camp Viking, this ensures pilots stay sharp in deep-freeze conditions.

This enhanced UK-Norway collaboration underscores a shared commitment to protecting NATO's northern flank amid evolving security challenges. As threats to critical infrastructure grow, these joint efforts reinforce deterrence and readiness in the Arctic.