The United States’ ambitions to expand its influence in the Arctic are facing a harsh test of reality. A NATO exercise held in northern Norway last year exposed significant shortcomings in the ability of U.S. troops to operate in extreme cold-weather conditions, according to British media reports.
The exercise, known as Joint Viking, took place in March and involved around 10,000 troops from nine NATO countries. While official assessments emphasized successful coordination among allies, accounts from the field suggest a different outcome. The Times reported that American units struggled with mobility, logistics and basic operational effectiveness in snow-covered terrain.
The contrast with Finnish forces was particularly stark. Finnish troops, widely regarded as among the most capable Arctic fighters in Europe, played the role of attacking forces and consistently outperformed their U.S. counterparts. According to military sources, Finnish units were even asked to reduce the intensity of their operations to avoid further demoralizing American soldiers.
Experts point to systemic issues. Although the U.S. operates a cold-weather training center in Alaska, only a limited number of troops have received comprehensive Arctic training over the past decade. Nordic countries, by contrast, integrate winter warfare into their core military doctrine.
The implications extend beyond the battlefield. President Donald Trump has repeatedly highlighted the strategic importance of Greenland and the Arctic, framing the region as a key arena of future geopolitical competition. Yet the exercise underscored Washington’s dependence on allies such as Finland and Norway—not only militarily, but technologically. The BBC has reported that the U.S. is seeking to acquire Finnish-built icebreakers due to its own limited capabilities.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense acknowledged that securing the Arctic would be impossible without close cooperation with Nordic allies. The Joint Viking exercise therefore served as a warning: strategic ambitions in the Arctic require sustained investment, specialized training and a deeper reliance on experienced partners.