The US has launched large-scale military exercises in the Arctic, using lessons from the war in Ukraine.
The U.S. military has launched a major exercise in the Arctic, using lessons learned from the war between Russia and Ukraine. The main goal is not only to learn how to survive the cold in February, but also to prepare for a possible military response in a region where climate and geopolitics are equally hostile.
GIZMODO reports this.
The United States has stepped up its presence in the Arctic with exercises that combine cutting-edge technology, tactics, and adaptation to extreme cold. These exercises directly address the challenges the military has seen in Ukraine. All signs point to the Arctic becoming the next big global conflict.
Under the leadership of the 11th Airborne Division, known as the “Angels of the Arctic,” U.S. troops undergo rigorous combat training. They brave temperatures as low as -35°C, testing weapons, snowmaking equipment, communications systems, and vehicles in one of the harshest environments on the planet. The maneuvers are directly related to combat experience from Ukraine, according to Col. James Howell, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
“We are adapting our ability to survive, fight and win in Arctic-like conditions,” he explained.
The focus is on turning each exercise into a laboratory for tactical innovation. The operations center is located at Black Rapids Training Area in Alaska, which specializes in extreme weather warfare. There, they train not just to fight, but to survive. Officers and NCOs undergo a new program that teaches them how to withstand, operate, and manage extreme conditions.
Beyond the military training, there is a clear geopolitical reason. The Arctic is transforming into a new arena for global competition. Ice in the region is gradually melting, opening up new shipping lanes and access to natural resources. This is increasing tensions between countries such as the United States, Russia, and China.
Washington is concerned about Russia's growing troop presence in Siberia and its fleet of nuclear icebreakers because it does not want to lose its influence or ability to respond in the Arctic. The war in Ukraine has become a stark warning: prepare for all possible scenarios, even the most extreme ones.
Thus, while the focus is on the Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe, the Arctic is becoming the central axis of US strategy. In this new power structure, cold adaptation is no longer an advantage, but a vital necessity.
Recall that Donald Trump denied CNN's information that the American strikes did not destroy key elements of Iran's nuclear program. Trump called these attacks “one of the most successful military strikes in history.” According to him, “nuclear facilities in Iran have been completely destroyed.”
