Dagbladet has revealed that Norway worked closely with the French arms company Thales, at the same time as the company is said to have sold weapons parts to Russia in violation of international sanctions. Weapon parts from Thales have appeared on the battlefield outside Kyiv.
Norway has given Thales access to both the nationally restricted network, which is used by the government and the ministries – and lent sensitive military equipment to the French company.
In the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Storting, the information provokes reactions.
– If a French weapons manufacturer has sold weapons to Russia in violation of the sanctions regime from 2014, it is very serious, and something France and the EU should crack down on, says Ingrid Fiskaa, defense policy spokesperson for SV, to Dagbladet.
RESPONDS: Ingrid Fiskaa (SV), who sits on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Storting. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
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She also reacts to Norway’s conduct in the case.
– That Norway shares sensitive information with a foreign arms company is in itself worrying. We must now make sure that the access Thales has had has not weakened Norwegian security, and that we have good enough procedures. With the Bergen Engines case in mind, it may seem that Norway has too little awareness of the risk that arises when such players gain access, says Fiskaa.
– Understand the feelings
The French Ministry of Defense tells AFP that they just has completed old contracts and that they believe they have not violated the sanctions. Thales says the same to Dagbladet:
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– In recent weeks, there have been several messages on social media showing our equipment on Russia’s military platform. We understand that this generates strong emotions, writes Lynne Scott Walters, communications director at Thales in Northern Europe, in an e-mail to Dagbladet.
She has been presented with the criticism from Fiskaa and Melby. Walters writes that Thales has always operated in line with all relevant rules.
– Thales has not entered into new contracts for the export of defense equipment since 2014, and we have not supplied equipment to Russia since the war in Ukraine began. To claim otherwise is wrong and misleading.
Walters writes that Thales has now withdrawn completely from Russia.
– Too bad control
Ingrid Fiskaa believes that Norway has too little control over the arms industry.
– This case also illustrates what SV has pointed out for a long time, namely that Norway has too little control over the activities of the arms industry of our allies, with whom we trade. SV has repeatedly proposed that the requirement for end-user documentation should apply to all arms exports, including to NATO countries.
Liberal Party leader Guri Melby also believes the case should have consequences.
– SERIOUS: Liberal leader Guri Melby believes the case should have consequences. Photo: Lars Eivind Bones / Dagbladet
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– These are serious allegations against Thales, which I hope will be duly investigated, says Liberal Party leader Guri Melby. She states:
– If breaches of the sanction rules are revealed, it should also have consequences for Norway’s cooperation with Thales.
Paradox
Jakub M. Godzimirski, who has been researching Russian foreign and security policy at NUPI for over 20 years, says it is not unusual – and not necessarily problematic – for Norway to buy weapons from companies that are in controversy in other countries.
– Is it not a paradox that Norway buys weapons from the same company that delivers to the country Norwegian soldiers and authorities perceive as a possible enemy?
– It is a paradox, he admits.
– PARADOX: Jakub M. Godzimirski at NUPI does not want to overdramatize the Thales case, but says the case illustrates a paradox. Photo: Christopher Olssøn / NUPI
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– But there are very few in the West who thought that Russia would start a full-scale war against a neighboring country. This problem is also further; A lot of money has been pumped into the Russian treasury, through the purchase of oil, gas and coal – which they have used to increase military capacity. There is also a political dimension here: By sharing “secrets” with a country, one shows that one does not think this country should pose a security policy threat. We share technology with those we know can be used in a military context, but then we say that people think it is not used against us. Then you have to swallow that camel, says Godzimirski.
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Espionage danger
– At Nupi, we have also researched how to protect critical infrastructure. In collaboration with Thales, they have gained a number of accesses. When it comes to security, it is also about access to sensitive information – it is also referred to in the debate about Russian ownership in the Bergen Engines case. The collaboration with Thales also has this dimension. Then one has to make assessments at a relatively high level, whether it is wise to give Thales access to this type of information.
He also points out that allied nations are spying on each other.
– Even if you are allies, like France and Norway, the national intelligence also conducts intelligence against each other, Godzimirski says.
– For example, when the United States hacked Angela Merkel’s phone. France conducts intelligence against other countries within NATO, the United States conducts intelligence against France, the intelligence world has its own rules. It is obvious that access to technology is an important factor.
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However, he does not believe that the Russia case will affect Norway’s relations with Thales.
– I see this mostly as a “work accident”. Norway has a lot of money in the treasury, can invest unprecedented amounts to strengthen the defense, but also in Norway you have to make some difficult choices. Norway can not develop all the technology itself to take care of its interests, then it is most natural to cooperate with companies from countries you are allied with. That’s where Thales comes in.
«Improved integrity»
The Ministry of Defense has been presented with the criticism from SV and Venstre. FD does not comment on it directly, but informs Dagbladet that the Norwegian authorities have previously been involved in “improving the integrity” of Thales.
– Norwegian authorities were involved in Thales’ operations in Norway being reorganized to achieve better integrity in the company, writes special adviser Birgitte Syvertsen Frisch in an e-mail.
She will not answer why Norway believed that a “better integrity” was required in Thales – and how often Thales had access to sensitive equipment before Norway took action to strengthen the “integrity” in the company.
– The Norwegian authorities have a continuous dialogue with companies that manage sensitive information to ensure integrity, Frisch answers.
– Unfortunate
Christian Tybring-Gjedde (Frp) also points out on a general basis that the defense industry is characterized by cross-ownership, where components from different companies are included in the composition of systems / platforms.
– UNHAPPY: Christian Tybring-Gjedde (Frp) says that. Photo: Christian Roth Christensen / Dagbladet
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– What has happened in this case, I naturally do not know, but if it is the case that Russia has gained access to and uses sensitive weapons technology produced in Europe, this is of course unfortunate, says Tybring-Gjedde.
– As I read what you write, the information from the Armed Forces is given in good faith and the intention was to improve the communication equipment Thales produces. That in itself is unproblematic. France is an ally. If there has been a breach of Norway’s security regulations, there is something the Armed Forces and the Minister of Foreign Affairs must decide on.
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