By putting formidable military pressure on Ukraine, Russia has uncovered the weak links in transatlantic cooperation and revealed that Norway is one of these weak links.
That is the opinion of Hans Petter Midttun, Norway’s former defense attaché to Ukraine. Midttun, who has served in the Norwegian defense for almost four decades, was defense attaché in Kyiv from 2014 to 2018.
– When Ukraine settles status after the crisis and looks at who was really there for them, Norway will not be considered a real friend in need, Midttun says to Dagbladet.
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– Norway a weak link
Midttun closely monitors the security situation around Ukraine and is affiliated with the Ukrainian think tank Center for Defense Strategies. He is strongly critical of how Norway and several NATO countries have handled the Ukraine crisis and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine for almost eight years.
– Russia has stress tested transatlantic cooperation, and in particular NATO. They have revealed that NATO is out of step. Although NATO has taken the same diplomatic line, and interprets the situation in the same way, they have behaved in very different ways, Midttun says.
An example of this outburst is which NATO countries have sold or donated weapons to Ukraine, and which countries have refused to do so.
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Among others, the United States, Great Britain, all the Baltic countries and Turkey have sent and sold weapons to Ukraine during the ongoing crisis. Countries like Germany and Norway say no.
Germany has even refused British authorities to use German airspace to supply weapons to Ukraine.
“Russia has uncovered which nations are the weak links and put the internal disagreement within NATO and transatlantic cooperation on display,” says Midttun, adding:
– In this context, Norway is a weak link.
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Will provide Ukraine with defense support
The former defense attaché advocates for Ukraine’s defense support, thus joining Ukraine’s “closest friends”.
“Today’s assistance to Ukraine is comprehensive and important for a future and peaceful Ukraine, but to put it figuratively: It can be compared to our insistence on painting houses on fire, while the owner desperately needs help to put out the fire,” says Midttun. .
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated last week that it is inappropriate to allow arms sales to Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to a Storting decision from 1959 which does not allow the export of defense materiel to areas where there is war or war threatens, or to countries where there is civil war.
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Midttun, like for example Unge Høyre, wants to change the law.
– Norway can offer world-class materiel, technology and expertise, not just weapons. While other NATO countries give Ukraine weapons, Ukraine is not even allowed to buy defense equipment from Norway. In this way, we contribute to the weak party remaining weak, while the strong party becomes stronger. In this way, we also help to prolong the conflict, he says.
– Will the region really be safer by sending more weapons there?
– Yes, we do not believe in it, we do not believe in the rationale for our own defense. A defense is primarily intended to prevent war. If deterrence fails, one should be able to defend one’s own sovereignty. Ukraine will always be militarily inferior to Russia. However, an effective Ukrainian defense will be a deterrent.
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Want a change in the law
Midttun wants to change the law so that Norway may contribute with defense support to countries that are threatened or have been attacked, but that the Storting will then have the opportunity to decide whether such support is in Norwegian interests or not.
– The consequences of Ukraine falling, regardless of whether it happens tomorrow, next year or in five years, are so dramatic that it is not in our interests at all, Midttun says.
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A war between Ukraine and Russia will not only trigger a refugee crisis, but also cause great civilian casualties. It could also trigger an energy and financial crisis in Europe, Midttun believes.
– If we allow borders to change and the sovereignty of countries to be set aside, the security architecture Norway’s security is founded on falls. We are among 18 NATO countries that talk in big words about how terrible the situation is, but who do not do much, says the former defense attaché.
