The past few weeks U.S. special operations forces have been training with Danish, Norwegian and Swedish special operations forces in Exercise Adamant Serpent 26. The exercise was held October 12-29, 2025 in Norway and Sweden with nearly 400 participants.
The Adamant Serpent exercise has been held annually since 2021 and reflects NATO’s renewed focus on the High North and the Baltic approaches. Adamant Serpent is led by U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR).
“Adapting to modern warfare requires a united front. Exercise Adamant Serpent demonstrates the robust partnership between the U.S. and our NATO Allies as we collaborate to address challenges in the High North.” (Lt. Gen. Richard Angle, Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe)
SOCEUR is based at Stuttgart, Germany and is responsible for special operations forces throughout Europe. Units assigned to SOCEUR include the 352nd SOW, 1st Battalion 10th Special Forces Group, Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Europe, Task Force 10, and elements of the 112th Signal Battalion (SSD). SOCEUR is a subordinate unified command of European Command. SOCEUR’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) spans over all of Europe and spills over into some adjacent areas as well. The AOR consists of 51 countries that extend from Greenland east through the European continent, into Russia, and south of the continent to include the Mediterranean Sea , and on to the Caucasus region.
The European theater special operations command (TSOC) holds several SOF training exercises and events throughout the year. One exercise recently completed was Saber Junction 25; the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) trained with SOF from four Allied and partner nations in Europe. The 20th SFG(A) is a National Guard Special Forces group with units spread across eastern United States. Another frequent exercise for SOCEUR is Trojan Footprint. This is one of the TSOCs larger exercises.
One of the two host nations for Adamant Serpent 26, Norway, provided ranges and exercise infrastructure – some at Rygge Air Base. Now a NATO country, Sweden also provided training areas for the exercise. Russia’s aggressive posture over the past several years has prompted both Sweden and Finland to step away from their neutrality which held firm since the end of World War II and throughout the Cold War. The Ukraine-Russia conflict, reignited in February 2022 with the full scale invasion of Ukraine, has hardened Swedish and Finnish resolve in standing up to Russia. Both nations are now part of the NATO alliance.
The 352nd Special Operations Wing deployed for the duration of the exercise with its CV-22B Ospreys and MC-130J Command IIs. The 352nd SOW integrated air and land movements during the exercise with the intent to refine tactics, techniques, and procedures. The 352nd is based at Royal Air Force (RAF) Mindenhall in Suffolk, England. In addition to the Osprey and Commando II, the 352nd operates MQ-9 Reaper aircraft.
Green Berets of the U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Swedish K3 Rangers conducted infiltrations and exfiltrations with the CV-22 Ospreys and MC-130J Commando II during the exercise. One of the locations that the ground force trained at was the Scandinavian Mountains Airport in Dalarna, Sweden. The SOF ground force deployed forward with their DAGOR A1 mobility vehicles via fixed-wing aircraft. The Polaris DAGOR A1 is an ultra-light tactical vehicle that provides transportable, agile mobility for up to 9 personnel.
The 10th Special Forces Group has one battalion based forward at Stuttgart, Germany while the group headquarters and bulk of the unit is based at Fort Carson, Colorado. At one time, the 10th Special Forces Group was based at Fort Devens, Massachusetts while 1st Battalion of the 10th group was stationed at Bad Tolz, Germany.
U.S. Special Forces have had several exercises where they worked with Norwegian special operations forces. These past exercises include Cold Response, Arctic Edge, Nordic Response, and others. The association between U.S. and Norway special operations forces dates back to World War II when Norwegian resistance fighters worked with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). One noteworthy instance was Operation Rype which had as one of its missions the sabotage of German rail lines in Norway. This operation was designed to prevent German forces from moving south from Norway to reinforce the European western front as the Allies were pushing eastward towards Germany.
Although Sweden did not join NATO until March 2024, the relationship between U.S. SOF and Swedish SOF goes back further in time. 1st Battalion 10th Special Forces Group has worked with Swedish SOF counterparts over the years. There have been instances where U.S. SF operational detachments (ODAs) have embedded with their Swedish counterparts for months. For the first time, Swedish SOF participated in the large-scale Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 25 exercise alongside U.S. SOF and other Allied and Partner nation SOF forces. One exercise in the past (2017) involved U.S. SOF participation in the Aurora exercise where the scenario involved NATO forces responding to an attack from the east on the Swedish Island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. Swedish SOF have deployed to conflict areas around the world. Two notable instances include deployments to Afghanistan and as part of Task Force Takuba in Mali.
The Adamant Serpent exercise improved the U.S special operations forces warfighting readiness, tactical proficiency, and interoperability with Allied special operations forces. Ever since the 2014 aggression by Russia in Crimea and the eastern part of Ukraine, SOCEUR has been laser focused on working with the Nordic and Baltic countries of NATO. It has increased its unconventional warfare (UW) training in the Baltic States. In addition, in conjunction with NATO SOF partners, SOCEUR assisted in the development of the Resistance Operating Concept (ROC) to enhance the resilience and resistance capability of NATO countries that could be faced with invasion and occupation by Russia.
**********
Image: A U.S. Air Force service member with the 352d Special Operations Wing secures cargo within a CV-22B Osprey during Exercise Adamant Serpent 26 in Sweden, Oct. 21, 2025. U.S. Special Operations Forces are trained, equipped, and ready to stand alongside Allies to support NATO defense of Arctic region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Long)
