The world has tilted to a position where more and more people are interested in the Arctic region, which previously received little attention. The possibilities of the North Sea region attract not only the countries of the Arctic region, but also Asian powers such as China.
There are many reasons for the interest, says the commander Rune Andersen From the command center of the Norwegian Armed Forces.
– There are plenty of resources in the north and there is a lively sea route, says Rear Admiral Andersen in a video interview.
After the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s neighboring countries and major powers have become more interested than before in the location and number of Russian nuclear weapons located in Kola. The geopolitical situation is new.
However, Commander Andersen reminds that the situation in the northern sea areas is still stable.
The Arctic region is particularly important to Norway. There is 83,000 kilometers of coastline from south to north, including the islands. In addition, Norway’s wealth comes from the sea: fishing and gas and oil fields.
Commander Andersen tells in this story how Norway takes care of the security of the region.
In March, a large Nordic Response exercise will be organized in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland under the leadership of Norway. About 20,000 soldiers from 14 countries will take part in it. There are 4,100 Finnish soldiers involved.
The Arctic region is even more important for Finland, a new NATO country, and for Sweden, which is nearing the end of the membership process, due to, among other things, military exercises and the pressure on Finland’s eastern border.
Finland closed its eastern border last year due to controlled migration. Norway is also monitoring the situation even more closely on its own border with Russia, which is a couple of hundred kilometers long.
Sweden and Norway warn against Russian and especially Chinese intelligence
Norway has been preparing for changes in Russia’s security policy for almost twenty years.
It moved the main command center of its defense forces back to Bodø in northern Norway in 2007. At that time, Russia was already active in the Barents Sea, although there was no tension between the neighboring countries as it is now.
Norwegian and in the analyzes of the Swedish security authorities, both China and Russia are increasing intelligence activities in the north.
Also in Denmark the situation in Greenland and the Faroe Islands will be monitored even more closely. According to the Danish intelligence analysis, Russia can disturb the Nordic countries diplomatically, militarily or verbally. Helsingin Sanomat writes about it, among others.
Rear Admiral Andersen says that Norway has prepared for the change.
– In general, we are prepared for a growing intelligence threat against Norway and its allies. The threat can be encountered on many platforms, as a cyber threat or at sea.
In its latest annual report, the Norwegian police’s security service PST estimates that new threats are emerging especially from China.
According to PST, civilian ships can have a dual role in the northern seas. They can gather intelligence on the military capabilities and activities of Norway and allied countries, as well as coastal infrastructure.
Commander Rune Andersen reminds that Norway has to control a sea area that is seven times the size of the mainland.
– We are constantly increasing the number of sensors and monitoring devices on the seabed and on the surface. The equipment in space ensures that the situation assessment is correct in the entire monitored area.
The Nord Stream sabotage woke up
The Norwegian police’s security service PST estimates in its report that merchant ships can also be used to damage underwater targets.
Norway has increased surveillance especially in autumn 2022 due to the Nord Stream leaky work that took place near the Danish island of Bornholm.
The person who blew up the gas pipes is not yet known. Russian ships that moved in the area and the Ukrainian intelligence service have been implicated as perpetrators. The Danish police announced that they would stop what they characterized as sabotage on Monday. Politiken magazine writes about it, among others.
The Hong Kong-registered container ship Newnew Polar Bear, on the other hand, could have damaged the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia in the Gulf of Finland in October 2023.
According to the Norwegian intelligence authorities, China can also try to damage Norway’s reputation, for example by causing an accident and thereby weakening Norway’s crisis preparedness.
China can also place intelligence personnel on the crew of civilian ships. A large part of China’s maritime traffic is naturally pure commercial shipping.
Russian trawlers are followed
Another threat is still Russia. In the annual intelligence report, it is estimated that the sanctions imposed on Russia can be tried to be circumvented with the help of fishing vessels that reach Norwegian ports. Goods subject to sanctions can be hidden on ships.
For the time being, Russian trawlers can dock in three northern Norwegian ports, Kirkkoniemi, Tromssa and Botsfjärd.
Fishing in the North has been kept out of sanctions, as cod fishing is an important livelihood for both Russia and Norway. In addition, the preservation of significant cod stocks and catch quotas between countries are important for securing global food production.
Cooperation between civilians and soldiers repels threats
Norway and the other Nordic countries can prepare for threats in the northern sea areas and elsewhere through the cooperation of civilians and the defense forces.
– In order to maintain an up-to-date situational picture, it is necessary to invest in surveillance equipment and intelligence readiness. In addition, in cooperation with, for example, ship industry companies operating on the continental shelf, information is constantly exchanged. The cooperation between civilians and the armed forces is increasing, says Commander Andersen.
Andersen says that Norway strives to ensure the safety of its own maritime infrastructure, such as gas and oil pipelines. In addition, it wants to secure critical infrastructure connections such as energy supplies to Europe.
NATO strengthens Nordic defense cooperation
Rear Admiral Andersen expects a lot from Nordic cooperation.
– There has been a lot of defense and security cooperation and it will increase even more after Sweden’s participation. The map and joint operations must now be looked at with new eyes within the framework of NATO. There is a lot of cooperation going on between the armed forces, summarizes Anderson.