- Russia is no military threat to Norway – NRK

- Russia is no military threat to Norway – NRK

Today was threat assessments against Norway in 2015 submitted by the Intelligence Service.

Lieutenant General and Chief of the Intelligence Service, Kjell Grandhagen, dealt with including developments in Russia, in light of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Although there is increased military activity on the Russian side of the Norwegian border, believes Grandhagen country is no military threat to Norway in the near future.

– Despite significant militære- and security policy changes, maintains E- service assessment of Russia in the current situation poses no military threat to Norway, says Grandhagen.

E-service maintains, however, that one should take developments in Russia seriously.

– Although the military capacity is increasing, it is difficult nowadays to see a rationale for the use of Russian military force against Norway in the short and medium term. The intention, however, can change over time, and there is every reason to take the long-term developments in Russia seriously, says Kjell Gran Hagen.

Read also: – Russia can move military forces faster than previously – NRK – Norway

Demonstrated military ability and willingness

During the presentation let Intelligence Service emphasized that Russia has demonstrated the ability and willingness to quickly concentrate military forces across the border to eastern Ukraine .

– It shows us that warning in connection with Russian changes in allocations will be significantly shorter in the future than we are used to from the past, says Grandhagen.

After sanctions from the West against Russia came into force, including the Russian economy plummeted. E-service sees that evolution is helping to create an enemy image towards the Western countries.

– It relates today considerable uncertainty about Russia’s long-term development. The country’s economy is in serious crisis, and new authoritarian domestic policy interventions are made continuously. Propaganda paints an external enemy image to collect population and a national patriotism built as new state ideology in the country, says Kjell Grandhagen.

Read also: – Drilling along the dividing line can create increased tension between Norway and Russia – Troms and Finnmark
Read also: – We see a clearer Russian presence – NRK – Norway

Have an increased focus on Russia

In an interview with NRK, says Kjell Grandhagen that E-service has increased the focus on neighboring East, on the basis that one sees a different Russia now than we did get years back.

– We have a growing interest in Russia. We have followed closely the developments in Ukraine, and has drawn lessons from what we’ve seen on the military side there. We follow confine with the political and economic development, not to mention how Russia operates in the north, near the borders, says Grandhagen.

Yesterday it was announced that the Prime Minister’s office has classified a number of previously released documents the Cold War, on the basis of developing in Russia.

Read also: – Disarmament has gone too far – Specialization

Published 12.02.2015, at. 10:58