Finland Denies Request to Ease on US Arctic Troops

Finnish Army Rejects Claims of Going Easy on U.S. Troops

The Finnish Army has firmly denied reports suggesting that its forces were instructed to “go easy” on U.S. troops during the Joint Viking 2025 exercise in the Arctic. The claim originated from a January 21 story in The Times of London, which went viral on social media amid discussions about the U.S. military’s challenges in operating effectively in the frigid north. This controversy emerged at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions about potential threats to Greenland from Russia and China highlighted the strategic importance of the Arctic, with Trump even making the acquisition of the island a key foreign policy goal. The viral story amassed millions of views, often mocking U.S. military preparedness, but Finnish officials have pushed back against the narrative.

Details of the Joint Viking Exercise and the Controversial Allegation

Joint Viking 2025 was a multinational cold-weather training exercise held in northern Norway, involving over 10,000 troops from nine countries, including Norway, Finland, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and the U.S. The U.S. contributed Marines from the 2nd Marine Division and 2nd Marine Logistics Group, along with soldiers from the Army’s 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment. The Times article cited an unnamed military source claiming that Finnish reservists, acting as the opposing force (OPFOR) and described as “the most formidable Arctic warriors,” dominated U.S. troops so thoroughly that exercise commanders asked them to ease up to avoid embarrassing and demoralizing the Americans. The piece framed this as evidence of the U.S.’s lack of readiness for Arctic warfare, tying it to broader concerns about defending regions like Greenland.

Finnish Brigade’s Official Denial and Exercise Clarification

In response to inquiries from The War Zone, Finland’s Jaeger Brigade— the country’s sole participant in the exercise—categorically rejected the Times‘ account. The brigade stated that no such request to “lower the pressure” was made and emphasized that Finnish forces were not acting as the opposing side but operated alongside U.S. troops on the same team. This clarification raises questions about who, if anyone, served as the OPFOR during the drills, with outreach ongoing to the U.S. Army, Marines, and Norwegian forces for further details. The denial underscores common misunderstandings about military exercises, which are structured for learning objectives like skill-building and interoperability rather than unrestricted combat, often leading to viral but inaccurate claims of one side “losing.”

Broader Context of Arctic Challenges and Strategic Importance

While debunking the specific allegation, the article acknowledges the real challenges the U.S. military faces in Arctic operations, including extreme cold affecting equipment, logistics, and basic tasks—a fact the Army has openly addressed in conferences and releases. Exercises like Joint Viking are designed to build these capabilities through training in cold-weather survival, injury prevention, and terrain analysis, partnering with experienced allies like Norway and Finland. As NATO strengthens with Finland and Sweden’s membership, the alliance views Arctic expertise as a key asset amid rising tensions with Russia. Regardless of the story’s accuracy, the Arctic’s growing strategic value—eyed by the U.S., allies, China, and Russia—highlights the need for enhanced preparedness in this harsh environment.