Joint Viking 2023

Where

North Norway, mainly in the Inner Troms Region. The activity will be concentrated along the European highway 6 Bjerkvik–Setermoen–Bardufoss–Nordkjosbotn. There will also be some activity at sea and in the air.

Why we exercise

To ensure that the Norwegian Armed Forces are able to defend Norway, we must exercise and train regularly. In the past year, the security situation in Europe has deteriorated sharply with the ongoing war in Ukraine, along with the energy crisis and heavy inflation. In light of these events, good preparedness and well-trained military forces are more important than ever before.

This especially applies to a long and strategically located country like Norway. The exercise increases our preparedness and our capability to conduct large-scale joint operations in challenging weather and climate.

Who

Around 20,000 soldiers from nine countries take part. Of these, 12,000 are participating in Joint Viking, while 8,000 take part in the British-led naval exercise Joint Warrior. The latter takes place in the sea along the Norwegian coast, and is closely connected with Joint Viking. Most of the participants come from Norway, the rest come from Canada, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

Around 50 aircraft and 40 vessels will be involved in the exercise. Some
Norwegian civilian organisations will also take part, as these have a
fundamental role should there be a crisis in Norway.

Joint Viking is closely connected to the British Naval exercise Joint Warrior and the Norwegian Home Guard exercise Jøssing, in southwestern Norway.