The Marine Corps have revealed plans to station a detachment of the hard-nosed troopers a stone's throw from the Motherland.

Soldiers and gear are primed to be shipped to military bases in Russia's neighbour Norway as tensions between the two superpowers are feared to be verging on total conflict.

Marines took part in war games in the Scandinavian nation earlier this year as they drilled winter warfare skills in exercises along the Russian border.

Major General Niel E. Nelson, commander of US Marine Corps Forces Europe, said: "We enjoy a very close relationship with the Norwegian Armed Forces and a limited rotational presence in Norway would certainly enhance this relationship and our ability to operate together.

"If approved by the Norwegian government, a Marine Corps presence in Norway will increase NATO's ability to rapidly aggregate and employ forces in northern Europe."

Relations between Russia and the US have nosedived to levels "more dangerous" than the Cold War as there are fears the civil war in Syria could erupt into "global war".