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All Norwegian municipalities must do war training
"That is the situation now", says Norways Minister of Justice and Emergency Preparedness Astri Aas-Hansen (Labor).
She is asking 357 Norwegian municipalities to be ready, according to The National Defence Magazine.
Both she and the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Preparedness (DSB) says that war is no longer just something to be see on a screen.
"We must all take stock of the security situation. Municipalities, counties, companies and all types of businesses must think: What do I need to plan and be prepared for in order to maintain as normal operations as possible in a crisis", says Aas-Hansen.
Two documents were released from the authorities to the municipalities.
DSB has prepared a guide on what are the tasks and jobs of Norwegian municipalities in the event of a fire. The second document is about practice.
DSB and the Norwegian government have looked at how Ukrainian society has functioned and organized itself after the full-scale invasion.
The guidelines for war training in all Norwegian municipalities are part of the government's Total Defence Year 2026.
Arctic military leaders met in Iceland
This year's physical edition of the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable (ASFR) was held in Iceland at the end of March.
The forum – co-chaired by Norway and the US European Command – brings together senior military leaders from the seven allied Arctic states, as well as from the observer states of France, the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Also present were representatives of the US Northern Command and NATO JFC Norfolk, which has now been granted permanent observer status in ASFR.
The military leaders exchanged views on security challenges in the Arctic, with a focus on building shared situational awareness and coordinated approaches to deterrence and defense in the region. The NATO Arctic Sentry initiative was highlighted in this context.
They also visited Keflavík Air Station and gained insight into Iceland's defense-related roles and responsibilities. Last year's conference took place in Kirkenes, Northern Norway.
Canada and Denmark deepen defense ties
Canada and Denmark have signed a defense cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
The agreement follows the Trump Administration's threats to take over Canada and was signed by Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, together with his Greenlandic and Faroese counterparts, Vivian Motzfeldt and Sirið Stenberg.
"Canada is an Arctic nation — and we will defend the North," McGuinty said in a statement after signing the agreement.
The Danish Ministry of Defense reports that the agreement will strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries in a number og areas, including defense innovation, technology, capacity building, and training, exercise and education.
Denmark provides F-35 fighter jets to NATO s Arctic Sentry
NATO has launched the mission to strengthen its presence in the Arctic, part of an effort to defuse tensions within the alliance prompted by the U.S. president's push to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
"Our F-35 contribution strengthens the overall presence in the region and underscores Denmark's role as an active ally in the Arctic and North Atlantic," Denmarks minister of defense, Trouls Lund Poulsen said in a statement.
Poulsen also expects the United States to contribute to the NATO mission, he told reporters ahead of the Munich Security Conference.