On March 19, 2025, flag officers and military representatives from seven Western Arctic countries (Norway, US, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland), observer states (France, UK, Germany, Netherlands), and commands including USEUCOM, USNORTHCOM, NORAD, and NATO JFC Norfolk convened in Kirkenes, Norway near the Russian border. The Arctic Security Forces Roundtable focused on addressing hybrid (grey zone) threats prevalent in the Arctic environment, involving influence operations, disinformation, cyberattacks, intelligence, state-controlled migration, and sabotage. The Norwegian Armed Forces emphasized the need for allied understanding amid geopolitical turbulence, notably related to Russian destabilization tactics below the threshold of armed conflict. The forum also underscored the importance of NATO military presence in the Arctic to maintain stability against expanding geopolitical tensions, with Army Brigadier Thor Andreas Kårsten highlighting the forum's role in sustaining continuous allied collaboration. The meeting included input from local Norwegian border and security officials as well as police and regional commanders experienced in monitoring the 198 km Norway-Russia land border. The event reflects continued allied efforts to enhance situational awareness, promote rules-based order, and advance multilateral defense cooperation in the challenging Arctic security environment.

On March 19, 2025, flag officers and military representatives from seven Western Arctic countries (Norway, US, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland), observer states (France, UK, Germany, Netherlands), and commands including USEUCOM, USNORTHCOM, NORAD, and NATO JFC Norfolk convened in Kirkenes, Norway near the Russian border. The Arctic Security Forces Roundtable focused on addressing hybrid (grey zone) threats prevalent in the Arctic environment, involving influence operations, disinformation, cyberattacks, intelligence, state-controlled migration, and sabotage. The Norwegian Armed Forces emphasized the need for allied understanding amid geopolitical turbulence, notably related to Russian destabilization tactics below the threshold of armed conflict. The forum also underscored the importance of NATO military presence in the Arctic to maintain stability against expanding geopolitical tensions, with Army Brigadier Thor Andreas Kårsten highlighting the forum's role in sustaining continuous allied collaboration. The meeting included input from local Norwegian border and security officials as well as police and regional commanders experienced in monitoring the 198 km Norway-Russia land border. The event reflects continued allied efforts to enhance situational awareness, promote rules-based order, and advance multilateral defense cooperation in the challenging Arctic security environment.