Release: 17-47
June 21, 2017

Norway announces one-year extension for U.S. Marines

STUTTGART, Germany - Norway's Minister of Defence announced today that U.S.
Marines will continue rotational training and exercises in Norway through
2018.

"Our Marines in Norway are demonstrating a high level of cooperation with
our Allies," said Maj. Gen. Niel E. Nelson, commander of U.S. Marine Corps
Forces Europe & Africa. "The more we train together alongside one another
the stronger our Alliance becomes."

The commander of Marines in Europe said the decision to extend the presence
of the Marine rotational force in Norway is a clear sign of the U.S. and
Norwegian commitment to NATO and the strong partnership between our two
countries on defense and security.

Norway is an exceptional ally, one that is increasing its defense budget and
is committed to acquiring critical capabilities. Both the U.S. and Norway
are focused on strengthening the development of joint leaders and teams who
understand the synergy of air, sea, and land power as a potent asymmetric
advantage in the battlefield.

Since January 2017, approximately 330 Marines have been stationed in
Vaernes, Norway, on a rotational basis. They will now continue to rotate
beyond 2017, with two rotations per year.

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U.S. European Command is one of the United States' two forward-deployed
Geographic Combatant Commands whose area of focus cover almost one-fifth of
the planet, including all of Europe, large portions of Asia, parts of the
Middle East and the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.  The command is responsible
for military relations with NATO and 51 countries with a total population of
close to a billion people.