Norway has established a new NATO amphibious warfare center in its northern region of Sørreisa, marking another step in the alliance's growing military presence near Russia's Arctic borders.
The facility, located in a town of 3,500 residents along the Reisa Fjord, will serve as a training ground for military personnel from the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands. While Norway lacks its own amphibious forces, the country maintains key army units and special forces in the area.
This development comes as part of Norway's broader military investment strategy, with nearly 16 billion kroner ($1.44 billion) allocated to bases in the Troms region since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. During Thursday's site visit, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram emphasized the need for joint training to protect Norway, the Nordic region, and NATO during times of crisis and war.
The opening arrives amid escalating tensions between NATO and Russia in the Arctic region. Recently, Norway's Coast Guard tracked the Russian spy ship Yantar near critical underwater infrastructure, including oil and gas pipelines and communication cables. The vessel's presence with active transponders was interpreted as an intentional display of Russian naval activity in the area.
In response to growing regional pressures, NATO has increased its military presence in the Arctic. Recent deployments include American missile-armed destroyers in the Barents Sea and British F-35B fighter aircraft stationed in Iceland for Arctic air policing missions.
The new amphibious warfare center adds to existing military facilities in Sørreisa, which already houses a Joint Air Operations Center and a Control and Reporting Centre, strengthening NATO's defensive capabilities in the strategically important Arctic region.