In March in March, an U.S. Marine Corps general aboard an Italian aircraft carrier that was floating in an Arctic Fjord commanded French soldiers to start an amphibious attack from an Dutch ship to thwart the invasion of Norway.

It was simply a game that was one of NATO’s “Cold Response” exercise that occurs each year. This year, however with all eyes focused on Norway’s borders with Russia the exercise felt more real.

* Nora Lorek for NPR

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Nora Lorek for NPR

Top photo: Helicopter from Bjerkvik, Norway, flies towards landing at the bottom of an airplane carrier on the sea. Middle left: Captain of the ship, Marcello Grivelli, and STV Caterina Massaro on their bridge on the ship. Lower: Grivelli takes a selfie on the flight deck U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Stephanie Baer, in an unexpected snowstorm.

“Having one of the major powers in Europe fighting a wide air-to-land war, threatening your neighbors, has an impact on all things,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who was at these war exercises. “Norway needs alliances with allies, training, and a proper defense in order to ensure its safety. This is what we do here.”

The troops from 27 nations participated during one of the biggest NATO war exercises in the past decade. While it was planned two years ago by Russia, its invasion of Ukraine caused this NATO exercise an eerie Cold-War appearance and an opportunity to stop Russia from believing that any NATO country could be a target for soft targets.

* Nora Lorek for NPR

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Nora Lorek for NPR

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Stephanie Baer, aboard the Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi.

“We need everyone in the world, everyone who is willing to join an offensive Alliance such as NATO to be aware that it will defend all its members. Absolutely,” said USMC Brigadier General Anthony Henderson, who led the exercise from the Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi,where hundreds of Italian sailors were hosted by US Marines.

In the past, Russian ships have closely watched the operation and even tested missiles near. Russia’s northern fleet, which includes nuclear submarines, are stationed close to the border with Norway. This year , the fleet is in battle, and is bombarding Ukraine via in the Black sea. However, in this region”high north “High Northern” Russia is still seen as a step ahead of its competitors.

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Nora Lorek for NPR

US General Anthony Henderson, top, on the aircraft carrier, where thousands of Italian sailors were hosted by US Marines.

“The US let some of its capabilities deteriorate following the conclusion in the Cold War. We have, over the past few years, focused more on the necessity of restoring our fleet of icebreakers, as well as being able to equip our troops to be able to work in harsher weather and in more dangerous environments,” said Sherri Goodman Former Deputy Undersecretary for Defense.

Goodman states that Russia is still enjoying a massive advantages in Arctic but it has a significant advantage in the Arctic – 50 vessels breaking ice, as against America’s two coast guard vessels. The melting sea ice the development of new shipping routes, as well as an ongoing race for new drilling and mining in the Arctic could create opportunities for conflict with Russia. Particularly given that Vladimir Putin is now a disgrace.

* Nora Lorek for NPR

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Nora Lorek for NPR

Crew members aboard the Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi,prepared the helicopter to take off in the midst of a blizzard.

“We have entered a new period of the Arctic of peace and cold at best, in which Russia is not as tied by institutions of the Arctic organizations that brought stability over the past quarter century. Although this doesn’t mean that we’re heading towards an unarmed conflict but we are moving into an environment where deterrence and defense will play an increasingly important function,” said Goodman.

In the same period that NATO was training during the exercise in Arctic Norway, the US conducted a similar exercise using 8000 troops in Alaska in the Bering Sea, in which Russia has increased its the military’s presence in recent times.

• Nora Lorek for NPR

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Nora Lorek for NPR

“After many years of being in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Iraq, it’s time to return to the Arctic climate… It’s something you need to learn every calendar year.” explained Norwegian Defense Chief General Eirik Kristoffersen, while he looked over exercises from NATO’s Cold Response 2022.

Being in the Arctic is not easy and the conditions could have been the cause of the death of 4 US Marines in Norway when their Osprey tiltrotor went down during the exercise on March 18 the 18th. Search and rescue was hindered by a sudden snowstorm, something that was commonplace over the course of three weeks of exercises in war.

The same is the directing of close air support for 27 different national forces with a wide range of languages and culture.

* Nora Lorek for NPR

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Nora Lorek for NPR

The top picture: Dutch troops practice an amphibious landing in NATO combat games held in Norway. Right: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store examines troops and missile systems.

“It’s an extremely complex task that’s why what we wanted to figure out was “how did we get ourselves to work well together how did we develop a good working relationship? You shouldn’t fire into someone else’s space as you may injure someone nearby. It is imperative that you’re in sync with the right people,” said US Marine Major Caleb Brown, who was in charge of simulated artillery from the Giuseppe Garibaldi.

• Nora Lorek for NPR

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Nora Lorek for NPR

Italian airship transporter Giuseppe Garibaldi, with its flight deck elevator that is lowered and sailing through an Norwegian fjord , which is above the Artic Circle. Obbedisco Obbedisco ” I obey” was the motto of Italian hero of the military Giuseppe Garibaldi.

In the NATO force The only real combat experience is from a completely different kind of war in Iraq as well as Afghanistan or perhaps Syria. Therefore “Cold Respond” was primarily about learning how to stay warm, keep air craft from freezing and to deal in extreme weather.

In a moment of sudden white-out storm that caused the ground to be closed to all aircraft in the cockpit of an Italian Air Craft carrier, many crews were left waiting for a clear. The purpose of the exercise is building camaraderie between NATO troops, and so they Italians as well as the Americans began a snowball battle in the air line.

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* Nora Lorek for NPR

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Nora Lorek for NPR

After flights were suspended due to a sudden snowstorm, Italian and American troops engaged in a snowball fight on the Giuseppe Garibaldi.