Norway and the U.S. will double the number of U.S. Marines (from around 300 to 700) training near the Russian border next year as the country increases defenses amidst growing fears of Russian military activity. Russia has promised that the move will lead to destabilization of the region and force Russian retaliation. Norway has emphasized that the move isn’t connected to Russia, but a part of increased cold-weather training efforts by NATO. The contingent of 300 marines based in Norway since January 2017 marked the first base of foreign troops in the country since World War II.
Source: Norway Confirms Plan to Double Number of Marines Near Russian Border | Military.com
