The Norwegian government has announced that it will allocate an additional 3 billion crowns (308 million euros) this year to be used to strengthen its military forces, particularly in the Arctic near the Russian border.
Norwegian Defense Minister Odd Roger Enoxen said, “Even if a Russian attack on Norway is unlikely, we must acknowledge that we have a neighbor to the north that is becoming more dangerous and whose movements are difficult to predict.” Said. Press conference on Friday.
“We must increase our presence in the Great North,” Enoxen said. “Russia has major security interests in our neighborhood and is of great economic importance to Greater Northern Russia,” he said.
These funds will be used to strengthen the Norwegian Navy’s presence in the north, intensify the training of the army and reserve forces, increase the stockpile of ammunition, fuel and other essential equipment, improve allied forces hosting facilities, and strengthen cyber defense and intelligence.
Protecting NATO’s northern border in Europe, Norway shares 196km land borders with Russia in the Arctic and a wide maritime border in the Barents Sea.
Major naval, air and ground military exercises are currently taking place in Norway, with the participation of approximately 30,000 soldiers from 27 countries, NATO member and alliance partners (Sweden and Finland).
“Cold Response 2022” exercises are part of Alliance Charter Statute V, which provides for mutual defense in case one of the allied nations is attacked.
It also allows allied forces to be trained to fight in extreme cold conditions.
Source: AFP
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