Facing new Russian aggression, the U.S. should redouble its Marine deployments in Norway.
I say that in light of Russia’s aggressive threat last Thursday that Norway faces “consequences” for requesting that the Pentagon increase Marine deployments on its soil. The Norwegian request would double the U.S. Marine complement in Norway from around two companies, amounting to 330 Marines, to a light battalion size force of 700 Marines.
There is only one good response to this threat: The U.S. should now deploy an entire battalion of around 1,200 Marines. This reaction wouldn’t be focused on disrespecting the Russians or attempting to aggravate them. It would simply ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin knows he cannot out-escalate NATO’s deterrence chain. And that understanding is crucial to the preservation of democratic peace in both eastern and central Europe.
A battalion-sized deployment would also strengthen Marine Corps capabilities. In 2018, Marine Corps training remains focused around urban combat and desert maneuver warfare, so by strengthening Arctic warfare skills at the battalion formation level, the Marines would be better placed to conduct midsize operations in cold climates. That potential has value in that the Arctic (which Russia wants to seize East China Sea style), eastern Europe, and North Korea could all become battlegrounds in the near future.
Moreover, it’s clear who is to blame for the Norwegian tensions. While Russia says Norway is risking an arms race and the destabilization of northern Europe, Russian actions such as simulated attack runs on Norway speak to a different truth.
While NATO will hold a vast military exercise in Norway later this year, the U.S. shouldn’t wait to react to the Russian Embassy’s Facebook post. Instead, we should respond in Putin’s language: with eyeball-to-eyeball resolution.
P.S. One final reason for increased deployments? My U.S. Marine-veteran grandfather believes more of his modern contemporaries should have the pleasure of ice breaking drills (as below)!
