OSLO (Reuters) – Norwegian Prime Minister Storre said Thursday that the country will increase its level of military alert from November 1 to strengthen security after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Expand the role of the readiness force by increasing the number of combat-ready soldiers.
“This is the toughest security situation in decades,” Storer said in a press conference, they are increasingly exposed to threats, espionage and influence. “
Defense Chief General Christophersen announced that the newly formed fleet of US-made maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8 Poseidon, would go into normal operation sooner than expected. However, he did not provide details on the extent of the military alert, saying it was a confidential matter.
“The fighting is raging in Ukraine and Norway is training Ukrainian soldiers,” he said, adding that an undersea pipeline in the Baltic Sea had exploded. He said the increased “uncertainty” has led to a higher alert level, although there are currently no concrete threats.
General Christophersen also announced that the training of the Air Force F-35 fighters in the United States will be canceled and will remain in Norway. He said the alert level increase would continue for “at least a year”.
Norway, which is also a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has a border with Russia of around 200 kilometers. The decrease in Russian gas imports into the European Union has made Norway the largest exporter of natural gas to the EU, accounting for around a quarter of all EU imports.
Defense Minister Graham said the military will spend less time on training and more time on operational missions. He stressed that the Home Guard, a rapid response mobilization unit, will play a more active role.
For the first time ever, Norway sent troops to guard its offshore and onshore installations after the Nord Stream pipeline connecting Russia and Europe leaked on September 26. It was supported by the British, French and German navies.
