Camp Viking is a British military facility located in Øverbygd, northern Norway which opened in March 2023 to support military operations in the High North. It primarily hosts the Royal Marines and Army Commandos.[1]
History
Camp Viking was established in March 2023 and acts as the United Kingdom's main operations hub for the High North.[1][2][3][4] Previously known as Camp Orange under Dutch occupation, it was substantially rebuilt for British use and given the name Camp Viking.[2][4] It is primarily used by the Royal Marines and Army Commandos for Arctic warfare and mountain warfare training, along with testing new equipment. It is also used as an operational support hub for British and NATO forces operating in the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions, including the Royal Navy's Littoral Response Group (North) amphibious task group.[1][2][3]
Commando Forces during their Cold Weather Survival Course near Bardufoss, Norway.
Under the terms of the lease signed by the Government of Norway and the UK Ministry of Defence, Camp Viking is to remain open for ten years.[2][4] As Norway has a long-established policy to oppose foreign military bases on its soil to avoid provocations with Russia,[6] the presence of Camp Viking is politically sensitive, with the Norwegian government insisting that it is not a new wholly-British military base but instead a rebranding of an existing training facility within a Norwegian military base.[7] Nevertheless, the facility was described as a military 'base' in press releases by the Royal Navy.[2]
Exercise Joint Warrior – British-hosted tri-service biannual multi-national military exercise, which includes Exercise Joint Viking now supported by Camp Viking
^ abcdeGrønning, Trygve; Ellingsen, Rebekka; Wilhelms, Hanne (8 March 2023). "Storbritannia skal øve i Nord-Norge i ti år framover" [The UK will practice in Northern Norway for ten years ahead]. NRK.no (in Norwegian). Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 December 2024. Britene trekker frem at leirens strategiske plassering i Nord-Norge er viktig for å sikre at de raskt responderer dersom de må støtte Natos nordflanke. [The British point out that the camp's strategic location in northern Norway is important to ensure that they quickly respond if they have to support NATO's northern flank.]
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