NATO has conducted a major military exercise in the Arctic, deploying armoured vehicles, warships, helicopters, and thousands of troops in sub-zero conditions to test alliance readiness against a potential Russian attack. The drills, known as Cold Response 2026, are designed to demonstrate NATO's capacity to defend its northern flank and send a direct signal to Moscow. The exercise comes as the High North (the Arctic region stretching across Norway, Finland, and other Nordic states) has grown increasingly strategic, with Russia maintaining significant military infrastructure along its northern coastline.