Countries can hit each other both with conventional military attacks, but also so-called hybrid attacks.
This includes synchronized attacks on military, civilian and business targets, including cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.
Another related concept is compound threats , which also points out that the distinction between peace and armed conflict is becoming less clear.
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MAKE-UP MAJOR: Large make-up before the panel debate. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes / VG Warns against hybrid threats
Støre says that the news from Sweden shows that hybrid threats can affect all societies, including the Nordic ones.
– This emphasizes that all societies, including ours, must be aware that we have what we call hybrid threats. We must take hybrid threats seriously, says Støre to VG.
He points to cyber attacks and other intelligence activities against military, civilian and business targets as examples of hybrid threats.
– There are several ways to cross the border and some of it can happen in this way. Now we do not know the details of what is the origin of what you see in Sweden, but we will follow it very closely to find out what this is about, he says.
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GERMAN LAYOUT: The German panelists were carefully lined up and in several different combinations when taking pictures with the Prime Minister. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes / VG Does not escalate militarily
Sweden has increased its military activity as a result of increased tensions in Europe, while Denmark is increasing its force contribution to the NATO force in the Baltics.
For the time being, Norway does not want to do the same.
– Why do we not do the same as Denmark or Sweden?
– Norway has a core task and that is to take care of security and stability in the north. It is something we do for our security and it is something NATO allies, Nordic and European partners understand and are happy about, says Støre.
He says that one of Norway’s roles is to lower tensions with Russia in the north.
– Norway’s core task now is to ensure that there is stability and low tension along the coast and in the north, he says.
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BIG BOSS: Olaf Scholz is the newly elected Chancellor of Germany. Photo: CLEMENS BILAN / EPA Does not exclude political context
On Tuesday, Støre will visit Germany , where he will meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the evening. On Tuesday morning, he participated in a panel debate on green energy and Norway’s role.
He says that the high electricity prices in Europe are linked to low gas deliveries from Russia .
– As far as I can see, Russia delivers according to agreements, but that does not mean that Russia delivers what they can deliver. Gas is supplied outside the long-term agreements. The IEA’s Director General is very clear that Russia contributes to the high gas prices, says Støre and adds:
– That it can be seen in a political context, we can not rule out, he says.
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FIRST JOURNEY: Jonas Gahr Støre is in Berlin on Wednesday on his first bilateral visit as Prime Minister. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes / VG He has received several questions from the German press about whether Norway can supply more gas to Germany , which is also struggling with high electricity prices.
– Norway delivers all the gas we can and a little more, I have the impression from the companies that export, says Støre.
– It reminds us that Europe and Germany ’s security is linked to stable energy supplies. Norway plays an important role there. During this visit, I have been emphasized more than before the importance of Norway continuing to deliver, because we know that there are reliable deliveries from a country that they know well politically, he adds.
Germany wants more cables
German State Secretary Patrick Graichen tells VG that they want more power cables to the continent to transmit renewable power, while Støre has promised that the government will not build new international connections for the next four years.
– What we need is a common vision for offshore wind in the North Sea. This will include power cables, says Greichen.
– According to European research, the potential for offshore wind from the North Sea is 300 gigawatts. We should together find out what the potential is for offshore wind, but this also applies to power cables, he says.
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CRITICAL: State Secretary Patrick Graichen is critical of the so-called blue hydrogen to play a permanent role in the green shift, but says that it may be part of the transition to a renewable society. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes / VG Does not apply to cables
– Is it the power cables to Europe that are to blame for the fact that electricity is expensive in Norway today?
– It is an extraordinary price picture in Europe, which also hits Norway. This is partly due to the fact that gas prices are very high. It is something Norway in the short term makes money on, but it is not a situation we want because we want stable and low energy prices, says Støre.
Today’s business has written several cases about an internal disagreement in the government about the interpretation of the Hurdal platform.
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CONCERNED: Jonas Gahr Støre has during his visit to Germany expressed concern about the situation in Ukraine and hybrid threats. Photo: Hallgeir Vågenes / VG Minister of Petroleum and Energy Marte Mjøs Persen (Labor Party) believes that the ban on international connections does not affect so-called hybrid cables, which carry electricity from offshore wind installations directly to Europe and to Norway.
Sps Marit Arnstad disagrees.
– Can we get hybrid cables under this government?
– The previous government had not clarified all the conditions regarding hybrid cables. We agree that we will not build new transmission cables this period, but do not rule out that new offshore wind turbines may have the technological ability to deliver their power in several places and that we get a network in Europe, says Støre.
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