LIZZY BUCHAN: 'I went to Arctic Circle with Foreign Secretary - UK needs Donald Trump to back off' - The Mirror

The Mirror's Lizzy Buchan writes about her trip with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to Norway, where British and Norwegian forces are acting as a deterrent to nearby Russia

High up in the Arctic Circle, the Royal Marines are preparing for battle.

These elite fighters spend winter months taking part in gruelling training in Arctic warfare and survival at Camp Viking, a remote outpost in the north of Norway.

What happens in this snowy terrain might feel a million miles away from Britain.

But as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper heard from the military on Thursday as she visited the base, what happens here will help to determine security in Britain, the Nordics and the rest of Europe.

British and Norwegian forces are here to act as a deterrent to nearby Russia by taking part in mission rehearsals. But they're also getting ready to fight if they have to.

Security in the Arctic has been in the headlines as US President Donald Trump keeps making outrageous threats to seize control of Greenland.

He claims that annexing the island - a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark - is necessary for the US to counter the threats from Russia and China in the Arctic.

Climate change is causing the sea ice to melt, opening up sea routes and exposing critical mineral resources. Greenland's share of valuable rare earth deposits are undoubtedly on Trump's mind, as China currently has a monopoly on these materials, which are used in everyday technologies like TVs and smartphones.

The UK and allies are stepping up their efforts in the Arctic to counter the threat from Russia, which continues to flout sanctions, perform sabotage and threaten Europe.

But they also need to persuade Mr Trump to back off. Denmark is a member of NATO, and use of military force by the US against Greenland could destroy the defensive alliance.

Expect to hear a lot more about the Arctic this year.