Dagbladet met the defense chief after he gave a lecture at the Oslo Military Society on Monday evening, and his professional military council – and the way forward.
Kristoffersen noted that the world has changed since he took over as chief of defense in 2020.
– After the pandemic came the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and now the terror of Israel, with a likely Israeli invasion of Gaza. We have the conflict between China and Taiwan, and there have been coups d’état in several African states, says Kristoffersen, who makes no secret of the fact that it has become a more dangerous world.
– Give us signs that they are alive
“Immense interest”
But he does not believe that the conflict between Israel and Hamas will develop into a major war.
– The Greek Thucydides (historian who lived in the 5th century BC, editor’s note) believed that there were three reasons for war: Fear, honor and interest. I don’t think any of the neighboring countries in the Middle East are interested in a big war. But of course we should not underestimate fear and honor, says defense chief Eirik Kristoffersen to Dagbladet.
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New security situation
During the lecture, Kristoffersen gave information about the professional military council, and the way forward for the Armed Forces.
– The security situation for Norway has changed, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kristoffersen said and at the same time emphasized that it is important for Norway’s security that Finland – and soon Sweden – become part of NATO.
The Chief of Defense also pointed out that the Armed Forces need a significant increase in their budgets, in order to be able to solve the tasks in both peacetime and in a possible state of war.
Letter from Gaza
Uncultured
He also dealt with what he described as a lack of culture in the Armed Forces.
– When the media, and NRK in particular, put the spotlight on sexual harassment in the Armed Forces, I felt that there was not enough understanding of the crisis in the Armed Forces. We have strengthened this work, and we must change the culture, the defense chief stated in the Oslo Military Society.
Kristoffersen was clear that even in Norway it is people who are the Defense Force’s strongest resource.
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The northern areas
– It is the people of Ukraine who prevent Russia from winning.
– Finland and Sweden’s entry into NATO also means changes for the Norwegian Armed Forces. While the Finns have large parts of their military capacities in the area around Helsinki, the Swedes have the majority of forces on Gotland and in southern Sweden, says the defense chief and continues:
– Northern Norway will only become more important for Norway. The marine areas and Northern Norway will be where we have to invest and use our resources. The northern regions are more important than ever to the Russians.
The chief of defense also emphasized the importance that material that has been given to Ukraine must be replaced.
2023-10-17 10:35:12
#Dont #big #war
