The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are expanding their focus on exercises across the Arctic and the North in 2026 to detect, deter and, if required, defend against threats. “Canadian sovereignty is inseparable from a strong and credible Arctic defence,” Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty said in a CAF news release. “As strategic competition accelerates and adversaries expand their military reach across the circumpolar region, Canada is acting with purpose and resolve.” Demonstrating its capability and capacity to protect Canadian sovereignty across the land, maritime, air, cyber and space domains, the CAF kicked off its 2026 exercises on February 14 with…
The Watch
Arctic Edge, a multinational, multidomain exercise that began in February 2026 in Alaska and Greenland, made history in two ways. It is the first time Greenland was included in the annual exercise, which will conclude mid-March. It also is the first time that United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) organized the exercise after Greenland’s defense was transferred to USNORTHCOM from U.S. European Command last year. Canadian, Danish and U.S. forces are taking part in Arctic Edge, designed to highlight the military capabilities of the allies in an often inhospitable region. Danish forces first participated in Arctic Edge in 2025, and this…
The second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier destined for service in the United States Navy returned to port in February 2026 after a week of sea trials as the nuclear-powered vessel nears completion. The USS John F. Kennedy is expected to enter service in early 2027. The addition of a second cutting-edge carrier will increase U.S. force projection around the world and bolster national security. The carrier returned to Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia on February 4 after testing critical ship systems and components for the first time under realistic conditions. Hunter Ingalls Industries, the company responsible for manufacturing the…
On a visit to meet with Royal Marines and Army Commandos in the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, United Kingdom Defence Secretary John Healey announced that the number of British troops deployed to Norway will double over the next three years from 1,000 to 2,000. “Russia poses the greatest threat to Arctic and High North security that we have seen since the Cold War,” he said in a Ministry of Defence news release. “The U.K. is stepping up … doubling the number of troops we have in Norway and scaling up joint exercises with NATO allies.” Healey announced the plans while…
Mexican authorities conducted several recent operations against Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization (TCO) designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Six members of Tren de Aragua recently were arrested on charges including extortion, drug offenses and human trafficking in Mexico City, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar García Harfuch said at a February 10, 2026, news conference. “This joint work between the institutions of the Security Cabinet and the coordination of state authorities has made it possible to weaken criminal structures, arrest priority targets, combat high-impact crimes and provide greater protection to citizens,”…
The United States Coast Guard’s Polar Star, a heavy icebreaker, celebrated its 50th anniversary in January 2026 in dramatic fashion by freeing an Australian cruise ship trapped in thick Antarctic ice. As the U.S. ramps up its production and acquisition of heavy icebreakers to solidify its defense of the approaches to North America, the Polar Star’s Antarctic deployment also highlighted the vital importance icebreakers have in protecting sea lanes, deterring adversaries and furthering scientific research in some of the world’s most remote and dangerous waters. The Polar Star deployed from its home port in Seattle, Washington, in late November 2025…
United States Navy SEALs arrived at the Yucatán Peninsula in February 2026 for a two-month training mission designed to bolster regional security and operational compatibility with the Mexican military. The 19 SEALs arrived at the invitation of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Mexican Senate, which must authorize any foreign military force. During a February 11 news conference, Sheinbaum said the SEALs mission is part of ongoing military collaboration between neighbors. “They are part of exercises that have been carried out for a long time; it is not something new, in particular,” she said. SEAL Team 2 landed in Campeche, Mexico,…
The United States Space Force activated its component for U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) on January 30, 2026, providing the command greater access to space capabilities and expertise, and empowering “lethality and effectiveness” for homeland defense, a Space Force news release said. “As technological and numeric threats to the Nation intensify, Space Forces Northern [SPACEFOR-NORTH] will bring crucial capabilities to the Homeland Defense mission,” Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of USNORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said in the release. Space Force components provide regionally tailored capabilities to combatant commanders to boost their forces’ lethality, sustain their freedom of maneuver and support deterrence against adversaries, the…
Norway made one of the largest defense purchases in its history, acquiring land-based long-range missiles and launchers worth nearly $2 billion. The missile system will be fully operational by 2031, the Norwegian Defence Ministry said in a January 2026 news release. “The Government’s priority is to rapidly strengthen Norway’s defense capability, and this acquisition will strengthen our ability to credibly deter potential adversaries. It is a boost to the combat power of the Army and makes our country safer, in line with the long-term plan that the entire Storting (Norwegian Parliament) has supported,” Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik said…
Defense officials from 34 countries met for a historic first meeting in February 2026 to discuss security issues in the Western Hemisphere. The Conference of Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense supported efforts of the United States and its partners and allies to bolster Arctic security and tackle drug smuggling and other potentially destabilizing issues in the region. Hosted by Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the gathering brought together key leaders to foster dialogue and set common goals for a region designated as the U.S.’s top defense priority in its latest national defense strategy. Secretary of…