The Norwegian Armed Forces Command has notified Russia’s Northern Fleet of the Cold Response 2022 multinational exercise, the Fleet’s press office reported.
"Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters Lieutenant-General Yngve Odlo acquainted Northern Fleet Commander, Hero of Russia Admiral Alexander Moiseyev with the preliminary plans of the upcoming exercise of the armed forces of the Kingdom of Norway and some other member states of the North Atlantic alliance during a planned video conference today," the press office said.
The Norwegian general assured that the armed forces of Norway (a NATO member state) strictly complied with the Vienna document on confidence-building and security measures adopted at an OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) forum in 2011 and favored the transparency of large military drills, the statement says.
"Admiral Alexander Moiseyev thanked the Norwegian commander for the information provided and wished Norwegian counterparts the safe implementation of their military maneuvers," the press office reported.
As the Norwegian side informed, the Cold Response 2022 maneuvers will take place in March-April. The exercise will be held in several stages, with some of the episodes to be practiced in the Norwegian Sea and also on the territory of northern and central Norway.
The drills will involve units of the Norwegian armed forces and about 28 NATO member states and partner countries numbering a total of around 40,000 personnel.
As of December 2021, 28 nations with a total of 35,000 soldiers have signed up for Cold Response. Of these, 14,000 are land forces, 13,000 are naval forces on board vessels, while 8,000 are air forces and headquarters established at various bases.
The main emphasis of the activity in the south will be around Rena, Elverum, Flisa, Sessvollmoen and Jørstadmoen. In Central Norway, the activity is mostly in the Fosen area (Brekstad - Bjugn), but also somewhat around Stjørdal in connection with the transport of equipment. In the north, the activity will mainly take place between Nordkjosbotn and Narvik, both along the E6 and the coast. In addition, there will be practice activity related to CR 22 in Bodø and at Porsangermoen.
Under the Vienna Document, member states in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe invite each other to observe military exercises. ■