Norway's chief of defence warns of possible Russian invasion, country prepares for scenario

General Eirik Kristoffersen, Chief of Defence of Norway, has said that Oslo cannot rule out the possibility of a Russian invasion and stressed that the country is preparing for a scenario in which Moscow could attempt to seize part of Norwegian territory.

Source: Kristoffersen in an interview with The Guardian

Details: Russia could resort to a ground invasion in order to secure its nuclear arsenal located on the Kola Peninsula near the Norwegian border. Kristoffersen emphasised that these facilities, including nuclear submarines and missiles, are the only Russian assets that pose a real threat to the United States.

Quote: "We don't take that off the table, because it's still an option for Russia to do that in order to make sure that their nuclear capabilities, their second strike capabilities, are protected. That's sort of the scenario in the high north that we plan for."

Details: Kristoffersen noted that although Russia is not currently seeking to fully subjugate Norway, control over Norwegian territory could become strategically necessary for Moscow in the event of a conflict with NATO. He added that preparations by the Norwegian armed forces include both repelling a conventional attack and countering hybrid threats and sabotage.

"If you prepare for the worst, there is nothing that prevents you from also being able to counter sabotage and more hybrid threats," he said.

Speaking about the Svalbard archipelago, which hosts a Russian settlement and is designated as a demilitarised zone under the 1920 treaty, Kristoffersen said that Russia is "respecting the treaty" and that Norway does not plan to deploy armed forces there.

Commenting on the war in Ukraine, he warned Moscow that holding occupied territories inevitably becomes excessively costly and exhausting. He stressed that if the local population rejects occupation, the aggressor ultimately always loses.

"To occupy in the first place is often very easy, but to keep the occupation going is very, very hard. And I think all expansionist powers have experienced that," Kristoffersen said.

Background: Previously, Kristoffersen stated that NATO has a window of two to three years to strengthen its defence capabilities before Russia prepares its forces for a possible attack on the Alliance.

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