NATO: Italy a Key Player in "Cold Response 2026" Amid Arctic Ice

Rome, January 19, 2026 – In March, Northern Europe will once again be the stage for one of the main winter exercises of the Atlantic Alliance: Cold Response 26, a multinational activity led by Norway that will take place in Norway, Finland, and Sweden from March 9 to 20, 2026.

According to the Finnish Defence Forces, the part in Finland – organized in the Rovajärvi area – will involve about 7,500 soldiers from Finland, Sweden, the United States, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Overall, Norway indicates about 25,000 participants from 14 nations, with land and air activities concentrated mainly in northern Norway and northern Finland, and a maritime component off the Norwegian coast.

Logistics and Reinforcements: The Finnish "Test"

For Helsinki, Cold Response 26 is primarily a testing ground for a point often decisive in high-intensity scenarios: the ability to bring in forces and supplies and make them operational quickly, despite distance, climate, and infrastructural constraints. Colonel Marko Kivelä, commander of the Jaeger Brigade and director of the land maneuver for the Finnish army, emphasizes that the exercise is the most important of the year “particularly” for the verification of logistical readiness, with a significant number of troops to be transferred to Finland by road and by air.

The numbers released by the Finnish Defence Forces describe a “mixed” structure typical of NATO reinforcement exercises: about 4,000 allied military personnel (including 2,000 Swedes) and 3,500 Finns, with a significant weight of reservists (about 2,000).
Among the most relevant elements, the presence in Finland of a Swedish division headquarters with subordinate units.

The declared objective is to train the reinforcement of NATO's northern area and cooperation in challenging Arctic conditions, improving the ability to respond to crises and threats and interoperability among allies.

The Norwegian Framework: “Multi-Domain” Exercise and Joint Command

Oslo frames Cold Response 26 as a multi-domain exercise (land, sea, air, cyber, and space) and explains that, in addition to the “live” phase, a large-scale simulation is planned to increase complexity and realism and test decision-making processes at the strategic-operational level.
Norway also notes that the exercise is led by a Norwegian-American headquarters at Reitan, near Bodø, and is also designed to strengthen Nordic integration within the Alliance.

Focus on Italy: Presence Already Indicated, “Probable” Contribution with Alpini and Amphibious Component

In the Finnish communiqué, Italy is explicitly listed among the countries that will take part in the segment in Finland. However, details on the national contribution (units, numbers, and platforms) have not yet been made public by the authorities involved.

That said, in line with previous editions and recent large Arctic exercises led by Norway, it is likely that Rome will focus on a profile “consistent” with the operational environment:

• Alpini (for mobility and combat in mountainous/winter terrain): already in Cold Response 22 Italy deployed a tactical group based on the 3rd Alpini Regiment (Brigata Taurinense).
• Navy and amphibious capability: also in Cold Response 22 the Navy participated with Nave Garibaldi and a company from the San Marco Marine Brigade.
• A similar setup was also seen in Nordic Response 2024 (Arctic exercise led by Norway), where Italy employed Garibaldi, San Giorgio with a landing force of Marine Fusiliers, and a contingent of Alpini as opposition forces.

In summary: Italy's participation in Cold Response 26 is already planned at the country level, and it is plausible – as per recent practice – a contribution that combines Alpini and an asset from the San Marco Marine Brigade with support from the Navy, but the official details on “which units” and “with what numbers” will come with operational communications closer to the start of the exercise.