The Norwegian government joined many others in Europe and around the world in criticizing the Russian government’s arrest of returning opposition leader Alexei Navalny over the weekend. Navalny, widely believed to have been poisoned in August by Russia’s Federal Security Service, was taken into custody immediately after he bravely returned to Russia after months of […]
Norway joins new Russia sanctions
Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide confirmed on Thursday that Norway is attaching itself to new sanctions that the European Union (EU) is imposing against top officials in Russia. It means Norway faces sanctions from Russia in return, but Søreide claims it’s worth the risk. “We can’t accept that opposition politicians are poisoned with military poison, […]
Defense minister downplays US pullout
Norwegian Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen is downplaying local media reports about how the US Marine Corps is withdrawing around 700 troops from Norway. He admits the Marines will have “considerably fewer soldiers in Norway on a daily basis,” but will continue to send personnel to Norway in connection with joint military exercises. “American forces will […]
Russia plans new exercises in Arctic
Just weeks after NATO conducted military exercises in the Barents Sea, and now has forced Norway’s northern city of Tromsø to receive nuclear-powered submarines, Russia is responding with major exercises of its own. Russian officials are calling the NATO exercises off Norway a “provocation,” while the Norwegians say they haven’t been officially informed about them. […]
US and Britain flex muscle in the Arctic
Four US Navy ships and one from Britain have been sailing in the waters off Norway’s North Cape this week, without any vessels from their NATO ally sailing with them. Defense analysts calls it a strategic display of force, which Norway must follow closely. The Kirkenes-based Barents Observer reported Tuesday that the American and British vessels […]