Course: Nato in the North 2026: Bridging NATO and Arctic expertise to prepare warfighters for High North challenges
Photo: © Norwegian Armed Forces
From 7-9 April 2026, the NATO Centre of Excellence Cold Weather Operations (COE-CWO) and the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies jointly delivered the second iteration of the course "NATO in the North" virtually, bringing together 90 military and security professionals from 14 nations.
"This collaboration with the Centre of Excellence was critical to the success of the course. It brought both deep operational expertise and bi-continental perspective on the topics under discussion."
Dr. Matthew Rhodes
Professor of international Security at the TSC
Professor of international Security at the TSC
The course aimed to strengthen NATO's ability to address emerging Arctic threats by combining strategic NATO frameworks with operational cold-weather expertise.
Through expert panels, interactive breakout discussions, multinational networking, and a scenario-based Arctic crisis exercise, participants:
- Explored NATO structures, processes, and current issues
- Assessed conventional and non-conventional threats
- Examined interoperability and readiness on the Northern flank
The Arctic is a strategic priority for NATO. Russia's war in Ukraine, China's growing interest in the region, and the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO have reshaped the security landscape. Collaboration like this is essential for building Arctic-minded leadership, strengthening interoperability, and supporting NATO's deterrence posture through Allied integration and shared understanding.
The next iteration of the course will be conducted in September 2026.
For more information please visit:
https://www.forsvaret.no/en
