The international community has learned that Norway has withdrawn combat aircraft from US-led NATO drills scheduled for March. The editorial reports that Lieutenant Colonel Espen Solemdal of the Norwegian Armed Forces, in a statement to the local media, announced that US F-35 fighter jets will not participate in the NATO drills in Norway concerning Arctic security. Solemdal noted that this decision means that 100-150 US soldiers will not be coming to Norway, stating, "They will go elsewhere in the world." Solemdal touched upon the fact that the absence of US fighter jets will affect the air component of the drills, assessing that the US is in its own race.
Norwegian media recalled that the US withdrew its combat aircraft from the drills due to tensions with Iran, recalling a similar situation in June 2025, after which the US withdrew from many international agreements. At the same time, the Norwegian Armed Forces noted that the drill, to be held in March 2026 under the name "Cold Response" with the participation of 14 NATO countries, will be one of the largest military drills held in Norway.