Norway officially established its second brigade in the Arctic region bordering Russia, advancing toward NATO’s commitment to triple brigade capacity by 2032, Euractiv reported on 21 August.

The newly formed Finnmark Brigade implements the country’s first national security strategy adopted earlier this year, which calls for rapid defense reinforcement and deeper EU cooperation.

“We have to live with a more dangerous and unpredictable Russia. The creation of the Finnmark Brigade is a necessary response to a more uncertain security situation in the world,” Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik said.

Oslo currently maintains slightly over 4,500 soldiers on active duty, supplemented by the National Guard comprising over 40,000 personnel who completed 12-month initial service. The country practices military conscription for both men and women.

NATO brigades typically number 3,000-5,000 soldiers. The founding alliance member plans further military expansion through a third brigade to be stationed in the country’s south.

Concurrent with the Finnmark deployment, the government transferred recently renovated facilities worth 130 million euros (1.5 billion Norwegian kroner) in Porsangmoen, Finnmark province. Operating as one of the world’s northernmost military garrisons, the brigade will monitor the Russian border and militarized Kola Peninsula.

According to the country’s long-term defense plan, the brigade will be reinforced with combat air defense, an artillery battalion, one light infantry battalion, an engineer company, and a reconnaissance squadron.

In 2024, Norway’s parliament approved a plan increasing Oslo’s defense spending to nearly 138 billion euros by 2036 – approximately 51 billion euros (611 billion Norwegian kroner) more than current levels. This 37-percent defense spending increase will significantly strengthen Norway’s naval power through five new frigates and complete submarine fleet modernization.

Four NATO members recently conducted naval exercises in Arctic waters as part of broader Far North patrol deployment. Norway also conducted spring trials for a 13-member Arctic reconnaissance group lasting 100 days.