The Cold Response 14 exercise (CORE 22) began on Monday (22) in Norway, bringing together 25 NATO countries and partners. Despite being planned since November 2021, the multinational exercise comes at the same time as Russia is fighting a bloody war in Ukraine.
This is the ninth edition of CORE 22, an exercise held every two years by Norway. The objective is to train in high-intensity combat in the challenging arctic environment. The operation, which takes place from March 14 to April 01, brings together 50 warships, more than 200 combat aircraft and 30 soldiers in northern Europe.
“Exercising together is how we optimize what each of us brings to the fight. We are committed to the collective defense of all NATO nations.”, said General Jeff Harrigian, commander of Allied Air Command. "Integrating and training with our allies and partners allows us to exercise our combined capabilities while deterring aggression against NATO."
Participating countries are United States, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, , Belgium, Holland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, , Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Partner countries Finland and Sweden will also participate in the exercise, in addition to other civil agencies.
That integration includes air-to-ground and air-to-sea combat maneuvers, as well as Allied fighters practicing their bomber escort procedures, with the B-52s that are deployed in England.
In the coming weeks, allied and partner armed forces will travel through the vast snowy region, carrying out live-fire exercises, operating in icy lakes and integrating air, land and naval means.
“They will hone their Arctic training skills, ensuring that the armed forces are prepared to respond to any threat or crisis. CORE 22 is bringing together Allies from Europe and North America, demonstrating the enduring transatlantic bond at the heart of NATO.”
The exercise scenario is artificial and will primarily provide a framework for portraying the path to crisis with peer adversaries in all domains (Northern vs. Southern forces). CORE 22 is divided into three phases, with two t command centers.
- Phase 1 – starting with naval operations in the Atlantic to gain access.
- Phase 2 – consists of heavy air operations to allow landing.
- Phase 3 – It is the amphibious landing and land battle to restore national integrity.
- Norwegian t Headquarters (NJHQ) – is the Exercise HQ and
will command the Northern Forces. - NATO t Force Brunsum Command (JFCBS) will lead the
southern forces
Norwegian Defense Minister Odd Roger Enoksen said: “This exercise is extremely important for the security of Norway and its allies. Let's practice an allied reinforcement from Norway. It is not being carried out because of the Russian authorities' attack on Ukraine, but given the background, there is greater significance."
Allied Air Command also reinforces that Cold Response 2022 has nothing to do with the situation in Ukraine, saying that “This year's exercise has been planned for a long time and was announced more than eight months ago. It is unrelated to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which NATO is responding to with preventive, proportionate and non-escalated measures.”
“Russian bombing near Polish borders is worrying because the dangers of spillover into NATO territory are increased and NATO is ready to defend its territory,” says Klaus Wittman, historian and former German general.
