Importance Score: 78 / 100 🔴
Arctic Military Drill Highlights Growing Strategic Importance of the Region
In a simulated emergency, the Finnish Defence Forces issued a call for assistance, signaling a hypothetical invasion. Responding swiftly, hundreds of American troops, belonging to a newly formed Arctic division, embarked on flights from Fairbanks, Alaska. Traversing over the North Pole, their aircraft landed at Rovaniemi Airport in northern Finland. Upon arrival, the soldiers rapidly deployed, equipped with M-4 assault rifles, rocket launchers, and belt-fed machine guns, moving into the serene, snow-covered forests, clad in white camouflage and waterproof boots. This rapid deployment was part of a pre-planned exercise in mid-February, but the scenario reflects a growing concern: the increasing accessibility and strategic significance of the Arctic as climate change causes ice to recede. Major global militaries, including those of the United States, Russia, China, and European nations, are increasingly conducting drills in preparation for potential winter warfare in this once-remote region.
Renewed Focus on Arctic Strategy
“It’s really only been the past five or six years that everybody’s moved on from the global war on terror,” noted Brigadier General Robert McBride of Canada, involved in overseeing the military exercise.
“Arctic nations are starting to understand the strategic importance,” he added. “The Arctic now has come to prominence.”
Geopolitical Context and US-Finnish Cooperation
This recent exercise occurred during a complex global geopolitical climate. Despite shifts in international relations, such as discussions among European leaders regarding independent defense capabilities and evolving dialogues between the U.S. and Russia, military cooperation on the ground in the Arctic remains consistent, with Russia still perceived as a potential threat.
Finland, sharing a historical context of conflict with the Soviet Union during World War II, continues to view Russia with caution. Janne Kuusela, a Finnish defense official, cited a local adage: “Russia will take what’s not nailed to the wall,” highlighting the enduring sentiment.
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The relationship between the United States and Finland, a recent NATO entrant, appears robust. Recent interactions between leaders, such as a publicized golf game, have underscored a commitment to strengthening bilateral partnerships.
Arctic Warfare: A Unique Environment
During the joint exercise, collaborative efforts between Finnish and American forces proved effective. Finnish soldiers demonstrated agility as attackers, navigating wooded terrain on skis, while U.S. troops established machine gun positions on elevated points and constructed snow foxholes. Both contingents acknowledged the distinct nature of Arctic combat.
Colonel Christopher Brawley of the United States military drew an analogy to space operations: “It’s kind of like operating in space,” he stated.
“No one’s coming to help you,” he emphasized. “And the environment will kill you.”
Survival in Extreme Cold
Maintaining dryness is paramount, a core principle of Arctic survival. Finnish soldier Jackson Crites Videman described a demanding test for Finnish troops: submerging into an ice hole cut into a frozen river while fully equipped and then self-extracting without succumbing to cold or drowning.
Recounting his experience in minus 36 degrees Celsius (approximately minus 33 Fahrenheit), Mr. Crites Videman noted the critical two-minute window to change into dry clothing to prevent frostbite, as manual dexterity diminishes rapidly in such conditions.
“Your friends have to help you with the zippers,” he explained, highlighting the necessity of teamwork in extreme cold.
Finland’s Defense Posture
Mr. Crites Videman, of Finnish and American heritage, is currently serving in the Finnish military due to mandatory conscription. Finland, a Western democracy with a population of 5.6 million and a substantial 830-mile border with Russia (NATO’s longest), has recently increased its defense budget.
Finnish defense analysts assess that while a significant Russian troop presence once existed near the border, losses in the Ukraine conflict have diminished this threat, estimating a 5 to 10-year timeframe for reconstitution. Prior to the Ukraine war, Russia had been investing in its Arctic military capabilities, including cold-weather modifications for tanks and new personnel carriers.
US Arctic Division and Adaptation
The United States has similarly focused on enhancing its Arctic warfare capabilities. In 2022, the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska was designated as the U.S. military’s primary Arctic division. This division is actively testing new uniform designs and specialized combat skis.
During the joint exercise, U.S. forces showcased a new tracked vehicle adept at traversing icy inclines. Soldiers utilized specialized high-calorie cold-weather rations to compensate for energy expenditure in frigid conditions.
Challenges of Arctic Summer Warfare
Combat in the Arctic summer presents its own set of challenges. The perpetual daylight eliminates the advantage of night-vision technology for Western forces.
Melting ice transforms the terrain into challenging marshland. Northern Finland’s landscape, characterized by dense forests, hills, marshes, rivers, lakes, and bogs, becomes exceptionally difficult to navigate. Ironically, winter conditions often facilitate movement.
Exercise Outcomes and Perspective
In the recent war game, participating forces utilized frozen rivers as efficient routes for troop movement. Commanders expressed satisfaction with the exercise, particularly appreciating the focus on military operations rather than political considerations.
When questioned about concerns regarding potential shifts in U.S.-Russia relations, Finnish General Sami-Antti Takamaa responded, “It doesn’t worry me at all.”
“The U.S. airborne division just came from Alaska,” he affirmed. “That’s what matters to me.”