Germany is expanding its military cooperation with Norway, Finland and Sweden as NATO began a defence exercise on Thursday, against the backdrop of Russian aggression in Europe.
"We simply want to be even more present here in the High North," said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Thursday south of the city of Alta, where the Nordic Response 2024 military exercises are being held.
Around 20,000 soldiers from 13 countries earlier began the major exercise in Europe's far north to defend against a hypothetical attack on NATO territory, according to the Norwegian military.
These include Finland and Sweden, who ended decades of neutrality to join the NATO alliance following the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Around 1,500 men and women from the German armed forces are also taking part in the Nordic Response 2024 manoeuvre, including 700 mountain troops, the Bundeswehr said in the town of Alta in the far north of Norway.
Pistorius said alongside increased participation in exercises, the closer cooperation with the Nordic countries also included joint procurement such as for submarines and work on the Frigate 127.
Commenting on the NATO manoeuvre, he said: "It is the largest and most important exercise in NATO for at least 40 years."
His Norwegian counterpart Bjørn Arild Gram underlined the importance of a common deterrent. "We are meeting in a very serious security situation here in Alta in the far north. In these times, it is important to have friends, allies and partners," he said.
The exercise is about developing the ability to fight together and work together, he said.
The manoeuvres begun at midnight. In the scenario, the soldiers were to launch a counter-attack on Thursday from the Alta area to capture areas to the south that have already been occupied by an enemy.
The NATO states are deploying a wide range of weapons systems for the drill, including 100 aircraft and naval forces with frigates and submarines.
Pistorius and his delegation were shown weapon systems and a winter camp of reserve forces, which were to engage in firefighting as the manoeuvre progressed.
The Germans and Norwegians used a laser-guided hit control system to fight against troops from other NATO countries, who represented the enemy.
Russia accused NATO of destabilizing the global situation through the exercises.
The Steadfast Defender exercises the scenario of armed confrontation with Russia, Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the Security Council of Russia said in Magas in the northern Caucasus, according to the Interfax news agency.
"This undoubtedly increases tensions and destabilizes the situation in the world," Patrushev said.
German Defence Minister Pistorius also visited a Norwegian military station on the border with Russia on Wednesday.
"It is actually becoming clear that the threads - if you like - are coming together here in the Arctic, in the Arctic Ocean," he said at the Norwegian border station Pasvik.
Much of Russia's military power is concentrated in the north and Pistorius referred to this, saying, "this is where the submarines cross. A lot of things come together here that we in Central Europe only notice a little."
Norway borders Russia for 198 kilometres in the far north. From Pasvik, the nearest major Russian city is Murmansk, home to the Northern Fleet and Russia's nuclear submarines.