During exercise Cold Response 2026, 32,000 troops from 14 Allied countries tested their skills during intensive training above the Arctic Circle in Finland and Norway. In the harsh Arctic terrain of Lapland, freezing temperatures, deep snow and long distances make every step a challenge. Cold Response 2026 is one of the first major activities brought together under Arctic Sentry, NATO's new enhanced vigilance activity dedicated to the defence and security of the Arctic and the High North.