US to double number of Marines stationed in Norway, move ‘closer to Russia’

The US will more than double the number of Marines stationed in Norway, in line with plans first outlined in June, the Norwegian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. Moscow has described as “clearly unfriendly” the plans to increase the number of Marines in Norway to 700 from 330 and move some of them closer to the border with Russia. The government in Oslo insists the increased US presence is only for training purposes, Reuters said. Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide has previously said the decision did not constitute establishing a permanent US base in Norway and did not target Russia. The first foreign troops stationed in Norway since World War II, the Marines had been scheduled to leave Norway at the end of this year after an initial contingent arrived in 2017 to train for fighting in winter conditions.