The UK plans to double its troops in Norway from around 1,000 to 2,000 over the next three years. Defence Secretary John Healey said this is to counter Russia's growing military threat in the Arctic region. “Demands on defence are rising and Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War,” Healey said. The increase follows concerns among NATO allies about Russia reopening old Cold War bases and expanding its military in the High North. Healey will meet NATO counterparts in Brussels to discuss these plans. The new plan, called Arctic Sentry and proposed by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, aims to boost surveillance and security. It is based on existing NATO operations like the Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry. In March, 1,500 Royal Marine Commandos will take part in NATO’s Exercise Cold Response, training troops in harsh Arctic conditions across Norway, Finland, and Sweden. In September, the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force will run Lion Protector, a large-scale exercise with multiple European nations. This operation prepares forces to defend key infrastructure against attacks in Norway, Iceland, and the Danish straits. The UK and NATO are increasingly worried about Moscow’s threat to underwater cables and pipelines, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Last year, the UK and Norway signed a defense pact to protect undersea cables. Their navies will work together to track Russian submarines. The UK Ministry of Defence reports a 30% rise in Russian submarines in UK waters in the past two years. The MOD says Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic is now back to Cold War levels.