Article content
OSLO Norway has called off two military exercises involving primarily NATO troops in its Arctic region in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the government said on Tuesday.
Around 3,400 foreign troops had been scheduled to take part in the Rein I and Joint Viking maneuvers, including just over 1,000 from the United States and close to 1,000 Britons, Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen told a news conference.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or Norway cancels military maneuvers to prevent spread of COVID-19 Back to video
As the northernmost European member of the NATO alliance, and sharing a border with Russia, Norway regularly trains its own troops alongside coalition forces to prepare them for winter warfare.
NATO exercise on Corona virus alert
January 11, 2021
At a time when the Norwegian government is strongly urging against all travel, around 3,000 soldiers from several NATO countries are arriving in Northern Norway this month to take part in annual winter military exercises. A total of 45 had tested positive as of Sunday, but Norway’s defense minister insists there’s no cause for alarm.
Norwegian Army medical personnel are testing all NATO troops arriving in Northern Norway this month for annual winter exercises. PHOTO: Forsvaret/Øyvind Baardsen
“The defense department’s most important assignment during a pandemic is to remain operative and carry out their assignments,” Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen said on national radio Sunday. He defended the NATO exercise on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) as the military itself was confirming the extent of Corona infection.