{"id":26004,"date":"2018-10-23T16:54:40","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T16:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/23\/us-breaches-the-arctic-with-marines-fighter-jets-and-aircraft-carriers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:53:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:53:49","slug":"us-breaches-the-arctic-with-marines-fighter-jets-and-aircraft-carriers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/training-sim\/2018\/10\/23\/us-breaches-the-arctic-with-marines-fighter-jets-and-aircraft-carriers\/","title":{"rendered":"US breaches the Arctic with Marines, fighter jets and aircraft carriers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. military is mobilizing to northern Europe<\/a> for Trident Juncture<\/a> \u2014 the largest NATO exercise since 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise, which begins Thursday and runs through Nov. 23, will include more than 150 aircraft, 70 ships and 10,000 vehicles, according to the U.S. Defense Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Marine Corps constitutes the largest U.S. service element, assets from the Navy, Army and Air Force are also heading into the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trident Juncture will primarily take place in Norway, but portions of the exercise will also occur in Sweden, Finland and Iceland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATO forces<\/a> are hoping to take advantage of the cold, wet weather, which poses unique challenges for aircrews, ground troops and naval forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the weather, Trident Juncture \u201cwill simulate NATO\u2019s collective response to an armed attack against one ally,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the press in early October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe scenario is fictitious but realistic,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd it will exercise our ability to reinforce our troops from Europe and across the Atlantic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise is intended to be defensive in nature, simulating NATO\u2019s collective response to an armed attack against its member countries, according to Stoltenberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, including Russia, have been invited to send observers,\u201d Stoltenberg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
An aircrew prepares to participate in last year\u2019s Arctic Fighter Meet in Norway. Training remains the primary focus for airmen in U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. (Senior Airman Erin Babis\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Trident Juncture is designed to test NATO\u2019s ability to plan and conduct a major collective defense operation \u2014 from troop training at the tactical level, to commanding large maneuver elements of a NATO force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norway is a founding member of NATO, and has been an active participant in the organization since the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With growing access to the Arctic\u2019s valuable hydrocarbons and shipping routes, Norway\u2019s position close to the warming region has sparked concern from its leaders that Russian aggression could spill over its borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\t