High North advantage – U.S. Marines, Allied Forces Deploy to Jan Mayen
JAN MAYEN, Norway – Norwegian, British, and U.S. forces will deploy to the strategic island of Jan Mayen to conduct Operation Atlantic City from August 26 to September 4, 2026. The operation is part of Arctic Sentry, NATO’s enhanced vigilance activity for the High North, and will strengthen the Alliance's ability to operate jointly in challenging Arctic conditions.
The trilateral operation will integrate multinational sensors, command-and-control nodes, and precision fires into a unified, joint kill web in support of NATO and U.S. Homeland defense.
"We want to prove the Marine Corps’ role as the contact-layer enabler of lethality for the joint and combined force," said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. David Palacio, the fires officer for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa. "By deploying to Jan Mayen, we are ensuring the Alliance can instantly target and deny adversary freedom of maneuver in highly contested maritime terrain."
Jan Mayen is sovereign Norwegian territory and is situated in an isolated part of the Norwegian Sea, approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from mainland Norway. At the same time, the island occupies an important geostrategic position north of the Greenland-Iceland-U.K. gap, an area of water strategically significant to the defense of the U.S. homeland and northern Europe. The Arctic is a gateway between North America and Europe and hosts vital sea lines of communication, making it increasingly important that NATO Allies continue to operate seamlessly in the region.
By operating alongside our Allies, we demonstrate that we have both the capability and the will to defend Norwegian territory,” said Norwegian Vice Admiral Rune Andersen, Commander of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. “This includes the Arctic islands, the High North and our territorial waters.”
Operation Atlantic City will mass lethal multinational capabilities in a rapid display of integrated operations. Each nation will deploy a variety of forces and capabilities instrumental to protecting regional security, maritime domain awareness and sea denial operations.
Norwegian participants include personnel from the Royal Norwegian Navy and the Norwegian Home Guard. Elements of the LXX Squadron, United Kingdom Royal Air Force will participate alongside detachments of Royal Marine Commandos. Primary U.S. participation includes U.S. Marines from MARFOREUR/AF, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and elements of the 10th Marine Regiment and Marine Air Support Squadron 1. Air mobility and rapid insertion capabilities will be provided by a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command MC-130 and a U.S. Air Forces Europe C-130 while fires capabilities will be provided by a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System platoon from the 3-197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard. The U.S. Navy is also supporting with participation from elements of U.S. 6th Fleet and Task Force 68.
The commander of MARFOREUR/AF emphasized that the complex operation is only possible because of deep integration with NATO Allies. “This highlights the ironclad relationships we share with our Norwegian and British Allies,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Daniel Shipley. “By building combat capacity together, we ensure the burden of securing the High North is shared effectively across the Alliance.”
Operation Atlantic City will be executed concurrently with naval maneuvers during Operation Northern Viking 26, allowing the trilateral force to maximize overlapping maritime and sensing resources across the European theater, while also supporting NATO’s Arctic Sentry activities.
“Arctic Sentry is our way of synchronizing all Arctic activity conducted by Allies to increase Arctic security, gain the most deterrent effect possible from those activities, and make sure that we have increased our common situational awareness in the Arctic,” said Norwegian Army Major General Frode Kristoffersen, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations at Joint Force Command Norfolk.
NATO Allies have enhanced their military presence in the region to ensure forces can operate effectively in extreme cold, across vast distances and in difficult terrain. Arctic training provides practical experience in areas ranging from maritime operations and surveillance to movement, survival and joint operations in harsh weather.
Operation Atlantic City builds on similar Allied training conducted around Jan Mayen last year. The operation also draws on the island’s history: the name “Atlantic City” comes from a U.S. military base established at Nordlaguna during the Second World War to support meteorological observations and Allied control of the North Atlantic.
Forces operating in the High North must be prepared to overcome challenges created by distance, weather, limited infrastructure and rapidly changing conditions. Training together helps Allies develop the relationships, procedures and practical experience needed to operate as a cohesive force.
Information for the press Photos and video from the operation will be made available on an ongoing basis on the MARFOREUR/AF DVIDS page: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USMCFE. Press contact: LtCol Kurt Stahl, Director of Communication Strategy and Operations Telephone: +49 703 1295 8050 E-mail: kurt.stahl@usmc.mil
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