The Norwegian Home Guard base near Trondheim that houses the Marine rotational force was the first stop on Gen. Robert Neller's annual Christmas tour.
The first Norway rotation, from 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, deployed in January and was replaced by a new unit from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, in late August.
Neller emphasized to the Marines that they should remain ready to fight at all times, predicting a "big-ass fight" on the horizon.
"I hope I'm wrong, but there's a war coming," Neller said. "
... You're in a fight here, an informational fight, a political fight, by your presence.".
The United States' position that Russia presents a major threat was re-emphasized in the new National Security Strategy released Monday.
The document discusses Russia's practice of "using information tools" to interfere with other nations' democracies and militant aggression that crosses borders. »