Worries rise over Afghanistan pullout

Top military officials claim Norway’s lengthy mission in Afghanistan has been accomplished, but some local Afghan leaders worry that security and safety will be much worse when the Norwegians leave the area where they’ve been based. The Taliban, they claim, is preparing for Norway’s pullout. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported on Tuesday that Rahmatullah Turkistani, said [...]

Ministers boost Nordic cooperation

Norwegian Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide, who co-hosted a landmark meeting in Bodø earlier this week of the Nordic countries’ defense and foreign ministers, claims Nordic cooperation is more extensive than any could have dreamed just 10 years ago. He wants to expand it further. “There’s both a defense policy- and material cooperation among the [...]

US Navy to probe radiation incident

The US Navy has denied that one of its vessels exposed crew members on board a nearby Norwegian Coast Guard ship to radiation during military exercises in the Arctic last month. A Navy official said the incident would, however, be investigated further. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) has reported that the incident occurred on August 24, when [...]

Celebrating in high, roaring style

PHOTO SERIES: Norway’s Air Force celebrated its 100th anniversary over the weekend with exhibits on the ground and an air show overhead that drew tens of thousands of people to the capital. From Norway’s oldest plane in the air to a model of Norway’s new F35 fighter jet, crowds could “ooh and ah” as Saturday’s [...]

Nordic foreign and defense ministers gather in Bodø

For the first time ever, both the foreign ministers and defense ministers of the five Nordic countries were gathering this weekend for a joint meeting, and it was taking place September 2-3 in the northern Norwegian city of Bodø. Norway’s own foreign minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, said the meeting was a reflection of how the [...]

Air show to fly over Oslo

Noise levels were expected to be high on Saturday, with the Norwegian Air Force celebrating its 100th anniversary with not only a major exhibition on the City Hall Plaza (Rådhusplassen) but also an air show overhead. As many as 25 military aircraft and helicopters were due to fly over Oslo and the Oslofjord between 11am [...]

Military to allow religious symbols

Members of the Norwegian military are now allowed to use religious symbols such as head coverings as part of their uniforms. Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide, meanwhile, claimed this week that the military “will get better” in recruiting and attracting “the best heads” in general. Now some of them may be wearing turbans, head scarves [...]

Official farewell to a ‘real hero’

Norway’s most highly decorated hero, resistance fighter Gunnar Sønsteby, was hailed with the gratitude of an entire nation when King Harald, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and a long list of dignitaries paid their final respects at his state funeral on Friday. Two of Sønsteby’s grandsons remembered him simply as “bestefar,” adding that “we are all [...]

Stoltenberg wants to beef up NATO

As Europe struggles through its worst economic crisis in decades, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg wants to strengthen NATO. He led Norway’s delegation to the NATO summit in Chicago, and said he wants to boost Norway’s support to the alliance, both financially and otherwise. “It’s unsettling to hear about the big cuts in European defense [...]

War hero to receive state funeral

Gunnar Sønsteby, Norway’s most highly decorated hero for his resistance efforts during World War II, is also receiving the highest of state honours after his death last week at the age of 94. His funeral announcement was published in newspaper Aftenposten on Wednesday. Sønsteby will receive a full state funeral from the Oslo Cathedral, with [...]

Norway may compensate civilian casualties in Libya

Norwegian fighter jets were among the most active during last year’s NATO strike on Libya, and NATO is under rising pressure to recognize and offer compensation for civilian casualties. Norway may go along with any demands posed by Libyan authorities. “There’s no obligation to pay compensation and there are good reasons for that,” Defense Minister [...]

Norway hails its greatest war hero

It didn’t take long before ordinary Norwegians spontaneously started paying their final respects to their country’s greatest war hero, Gunnar Sønsteby, after his death was announced on Thursday afternoon. Sønsteby was Norway’s most decorated citizen and spent much of his life sharing his experiences from World War II with future generations. The mild-mannered man who [...]

Combined ‘holiday’ stirs more critics

The Akershus Fortress and Castle in Oslo was once again the focal point for Norway’s observance on Tuesday of its newly combined Liberation Day and Veterans’ Day holiday on May 8th. Canons roared and flags flew, but May 8th still isn’t a legal day off from school or work, and rumbling continued among those who [...]

Norway nurtures closer military ties to Sweden

Norwegian Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide has called Sweden “our foremost partner within military material,” especially rolling stock, and is backing up the claim with around NOK 10 billion worth of defense purchases. Just four years ago, Sweden was angry and disappointed when Norway opted to buy US-built fighter jets instead of the Swedish SAAB [...]

Mood to lead UN observers in Syria

The United Nations has, as expected, named Norwegian Major General Robert Mood to lead the UN observers in Syria. Norway’s former defense chief said he couldn’t think of anyone better qualified to do the job. The UN decided just before the weekend to send up to 300 unarmed observers to Syria during the next few [...]

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