Create an account Reset password Already have an account? Log in From now on you can download videos from our website If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below. Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password. The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters,...
Create an account Reset password Already have an account? Log in From now on you can download videos from our website If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below. Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password. The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password. 18 March 2026 2 MIN READ On Wednesday (18 March 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Norway, where he met Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre before travelling north to Bardufoss Air Base and the Setermoen training area, to observe exercise Cold Response 26. Speaking at a press conference in Setermoen with Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, the Secretary General described Norway as “a key player” for the security of NATO’s northern flank. “You have developed specialised military capabilities tailored not just to cold-weather operations, but to Arctic and also to sub-Arctic conditions,” he said, adding that Norway provides NATO with a wide range of capabilities for Arctic operations, and conducts vital activities and exercises, including Cold Response. Cold Response 26 is taking place mainly in northern Norway, as well as in Finland, with more than 32,000 personnel from 14 Allies participating, including some 25,000 in Norway and 7,000 in Finland. The exercise is one of the Allied activities contributing to Arctic Sentry, NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity in the Arctic and the High North, led by Joint Force Command Norfolk. During his visit, Mr Rutte also met senior Norwegian military leaders, including the Chief of the Norwegian Army, Major General Lars Lervik, and the Commander of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, Vice Admiral Rune Andersen. “We have seen many examples today of our military readiness,” the Secretary General said. “How exercising and learning from one another builds bonds between Allies, and ensures the ability of NATO nations to operate effectively, and to do this together.” Earlier in the day in Oslo, ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Støre, the Secretary General also praised Norway’s broad contribution to Allied security. “What Norway is doing - in terms of defence spending, the support for Ukraine, keeping NATO safe on the eastern flank, in the Arctic - you are really punching above your weight,” he told the Prime Minister. Link was copied to clipboard GALLERIES NATO Secretary General visits Norway 17 March 2026 - 18 March 2026 1 / 30 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with Rune Edvardsen, Mayor of Narvik NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with Rune Edvardsen, Mayor of Narvik NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Bardufoss Airbase in Norway NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Bardufoss Airbase in Norway NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Defence of Norway, Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and Anita Nergaard, Permanent Representative of Norway to NATO at the Bardufoss Airbase in Norway Exercise brief on Cold Response (CORE) 2026 at the Badufoss Airbase in Norway Joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Defence of Norway and Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Defence of Norway and Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Defence of Norway and Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits the Exercise Cold Response 2026 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits the Exercise Cold Response 2026 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits the Exercise Cold Response 2026 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Defence of Norway, Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and Anita Nergaard, Permanent Representative of Norway to NATO NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visits Norway and interacts with combat ready soldiers Back VIEW METADATA VIEW IMAGE Assets details Description Creation date Location Themes Reference Resolution Aspect radio Format Usage right Credit GALLERIES NATO Secretary General visits Norway Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 NATO Secretary General visits Norway [Opening remarks] Joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General with the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway View usage rights Usage rights CLOSE This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 NATO Secretary General visits Norway [Q&A] Joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General with the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway View usage rights Usage rights CLOSE This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 NATO Secretary General visits Norway Short remarks by the NATO Secretary General and the Prime minister of Norway View usage rights Usage rights CLOSE This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 NATO Secretary General visits Norway NATO Secretary General meets with the Prime Minister of Norway View usage rights Usage rights CLOSE This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 NATO Secretary General visits Norway NATO Secretary General visits the Ex. Cold Response 2026 View usage rights Usage rights CLOSE This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is restricted for use for other purposes. TITLE DATE DURATION Joint press conference by the NATO Secretary General with the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway 0:00 / 0:00 Audio Language Selection: Audio Language Selection: Download Playback speed Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Download Playback speed Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Short remarks by the NATO Secretary General and the Prime minister of Norway 0:00 / 0:00 Audio Language Selection: Audio Language Selection: Download Playback speed Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Download Playback speed Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Back 0.25 0.5 0.75 Normal 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with Minister of Defence of Norway Tore O. Sandvik and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide Remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre
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