Ben Wallace, left, wants the UK to beef up its capability in snow and icy conditionsBritain must learn to fight in the Arctic amid concerns Moscow is beefing up its capabilities in sub-zero conditions as ice caps melt and create new sea routes, the defence secretary has said. Ben Wallace warned of “growing threats and competition” in the High North as he pledged to build up a force of troops that could rapidly deploy to the region in the event of conflict. SponsoredDuring a visit to Arvidsjaur in Swedish Lapland, he said more troops, such as Royal Marine commandos, needed to learn how to survive and carry out surveillance in temperatures as low as minus 40C. Several hundred commandos go to Norway every year for cold weather training. However, as Russia bolsters its military defences in response to climate change,

Source: The Times December 10, 2021 06:37 UTC