British troops plunge into icy Arctic waters as tensions rise over Greenland

By Dean Murray

As tensions simmer across the Arctic, with Trump pushing to control Greenland, British forces are honing their cold-weather warfare skills in Norway’s frozen north.

Military personnel have been conducting so-called ice-breaking drills, which see troops jumping into icy water in full kit.

The challenge comes at the end of the Cold Weather Aviation Operator Course during the annual exercise in the Arctic Circle, Operation Clockwork, in Bardufoss, Norway.

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Those on the course take a tethered, controlled leap into freezing cold water with ski poles. Once they surface from the icy water, they must successfully push their backpack to safety before collecting their composure to secure their ski poles in the ice.

They then have to answer a question from their instructor before being given permission to climb out.

Participants also carry out survival training, ensuring they are able to live and move in the wilderness – learning to navigate, ski, and build shelters and forage for food – before conducting sorties over Norway’s fjords and mountains.