It was perhaps ironic that a large German cruiseship would sail into Oslo early Wednesday morning, just as an historic US military vessel was sailing out. Things were different on May 8, 1945, when Norway could first celebrate its liberation from five years of Nazi German occupation during World War II, and efforts continue to […]
Spy chief candid to the bitter end
May 6, 2019
In his unusual but typically candid manner, Lt General Kjell Grandhagen told newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) last December that he didn’t know how long he’d live after New Year. Terminally ill with bone marrow cancer, the highly decorated career officer and former chief of Norway’s military intelligence agency made it all through the winter, remaining […]
Norwegian defense ‘has been weakened’
April 24, 2019
Only their smiles were perhaps surprising when Norway’s defense chief, Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, presented his annual report to Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen this week. It came as no surprise when the former submarine commander had to admit that Norway’s defense was weakened by last autumn’s frigate collision, just as Russian sabre-rattling has worsened security. “The […]
Probe launched into frigate’s salvage
April 12, 2019
The Norwegian Navy’s ill-fated frigate KNM Helge Ingstad was refloated this week, just six weeks after the sunken vessel was raised from the waters of the Hjeltefjord northwest of Bergen. Members of Parliament, meanwhile, have called for an investigation into the salvage operation itself, because of concerns over how it was carried out and its […]
‘Jens’ charms Trump and NATO at 70
April 3, 2019
NEWS ANALYSIS: Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg has always been known as a likeable guy, from his years as a radical young politician through his three terms as Norway’s prime minister. Now, as secretary general of NATO, the man Norwegians still refer to simply as “Yens” has also managed to charm US President Donald Trump and thus […]
Three face blame for frigate collision
April 3, 2019
No charges have been filed yet, but the police investigation into the spectacular collision between a Norwegian frigate and an oil tanker last fall is now targeting three people. They’re all believed to have played “central roles” in the maritime drama. “These are the three who were responsible for the three entities involved,” Ole Bjørn […]
Cyber attacks high on defense agenda
March 20, 2019
Norway’s defense minister had the threat of cyber attacks high on his agenda when he met with foreign correspondents in Oslo earlier this week, and that was before news broke of the massive attack on industrial concern Norsk Hydro. Frank Bakke-Jensen referred to cyberspace as the new battleground that potentially poses more challenges than the […]
Defense minister heads into battle
March 19, 2019
“I’m a peaceful guy,” Norwegian Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen told foreign corespondents in Oslo on Monday. As he headed into the government’s first major talks about next year’s state budget on Tuesday, however, he needed to fight for as much funding as possible at a time when Norway’s defense capacity is under severe pressure and […]
Forlorn frigate may sail once again
March 4, 2019
The once-proud Norwegian frigate KNM Helge Ingstad is finally back at home port in Bergen, severely gashed and rusting after four months underwater. Raising the sunken frigate, which collided with an oil tanker in early November, has already cost taxpayers dearly and now government officials want to repair it so it can sail again. Naval officers […]
Plans change for frigate salvage
February 27, 2019
After a day of slowly raising the sunken frigate KNM Helge Ingstad out of the Hjelte Fjord, there’s been a change of plan. Fears of rougher seas and weather are prompting salvage crews to now move the wreckage 30 kilometers south to the other side of the fjord, where waters are expected to be calmer. […]
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