NATO prepares for huge military games on land, at sea and in the air in Norway with 30,000 troops from 27 countries later this month amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- Russia has refused to send observers to monitor NATO maneuvers in Norway
- Cold Response 2022 will bring together about 30,000 troops from 27 nations
- From mid-March to early April, troops will be training on land, at sea and in the air
Russia has refused to send observers to upcoming military maneuvers involving tens of thousands of troops NATO countries later this month in Norway, the Norwegian military said today.
NATO’s largest exercise planned for this year, Cold Response 2022, will bring together about 30,000 troops from 27 countries.
From mid-March to early April, they will train on land, at sea and in the air, deploying troops to help an attacked NATO country.
Russia has refused to send observers to monitor NATO’s upcoming maneuvers in Norway
As usual, members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), including Russia, have been invited to send observers to monitor the exercise, which was planned long before Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine last week.
“Russia thanked for the offer to send observers during Cold Response 22, but declined,” Norwegian Army spokesman Preben Aursand told AFP.
The reasons for the refusal were unknown.
Foreign troops have already arrived in Norway, retreating in weeks, even months, and more are expected in the coming days.
The number of troops announced varies: it was originally estimated at more than 40,000, now it is estimated at about 30,000.
“Some nations have chosen to use their troops in other ways,” Preben Aursand said, without elaborating.
In addition to NATO members, Finland and Sweden, two nations that are officially non-aligned but where the membership debate has resumed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are expected to send troops.
The United States and the United Kingdom will deploy one battle group each during the exercise.
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