politics
New CAOC Makes Arctic City a Bomb Target: Cheaper Than Expanding the Joint Headquarters
Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): NATO's new Combined Air Operations Center once again makes Bodø a security policy bull's eye. Yet, an almost 30-year-old decision provides an exception to building shelters in new buildings.
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In a letter to the Civil Defense in Nordland last fall, the architectural firm Nordic Office of Architecture requested an exemption from the obligation to construct a shelter in Bodø/Glimt Arctic Arena, which is to be built in downtown Bodø in Northern Norway, in 2026.
The arena will comprise 21,475 square meters, will accommodate 10,000 spectators, and will be built without a basement, nor a shelter.
That is not a special case, as the construction of new shelters was temprarily halted by the Norwegian parliament in 1998. Therefore, applying for an expemption from the Civil Protection Act's paragraph 20's obligation to establish private shelters is a mere formality.
Burning issue
Everyone who applies gets an exemption, but they still have to apply because they may be required to build a shelter later if the building is expanded and the temporary construction halt from 1998 is lifted.
The exception nevertheless illustrates a burning issue.
We will follow international law
Last year, it was determined that Bodø will host a Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) for NATO - a regional headquarters for NATO that plans, directs, and supports air operations in peace, crisis, and conflict.
Geopolitical hotspot
Now, we also know that the NATO center will be located in the middle of the city near Bodø Airport, and not at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters at Reitan 25 kilometers east of Bodø, as initially planned.
This puts the municipality of Bodø back on the map as a geopolitical hotspot. A 'first strike city.' Russian authorities have stated that NATO's new center in Bodø is an "aggressive war preparation".
However, according to the Civil Defense, Bodø has shelters for only 21,000 of its 53,000 residents. The head of the Civil Defense in Nordland, Espen Larsen, has previously explained to HNN that it is not intended to have 100 percent coverage based on population numbers and that shelters must be seen in conjunction with other measures.
"At the same time, there is a decline in the number of shelters because some buildings with shelters are being demolished."
Take the demolition of the old nursing home in Saltdal municipality in Northern Norway as an example. Due to the nearly 30-year-old construction halt, shelters that are demolished are not being replaced. As a result, there are no longer any public shelters in Saltdal.
One year later
The Total Preparedness Report, which has already become a year old, recommends to reintroduce the obligation to build shelters, as well as develop a new protection concept in four categories:
Protection where you are, locations in safer geographical areas, protected spaces, and shelters.
The government has asked the parliament to repeal the decision from 1998 and writes in the Total Preparedness Report that they "will quickly send a proposal on the matter for public consultation."
Not illegal
A year later, there is no sign of the proposal. Meanwhile, Bodø has been placed on the map as a legitimate bomb target according to the laws of war and the Geneva Convention, which states that one should avoid placing military targets near populated areas.
It is therefore not illegal to place military targets close to populated areas, but it should be avoided as far as possible.
The Norwegian Red Cross believes that the base is an obviously legal target in war and questions its location close to the city.
"In such debates, it is important to consider the consequences and risks of placing such an institution in Bodø," explained Tobias Köhler, chief legal officer at the Red Cross, who participated in the debate concept Lytring in Bodø last week.
Follows international law
State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense Marte Gerhardsen (Labor) participated in the debate and confirms to HNN that a hearing on the regulation on shelters is underway, but she cannot provide a timeline.
She emphasizes that the permanent placement of CAOC in Bodø follows the laws of war.
"We will follow international law and place military targets so that if the opponent follows the laws of war, they should be able to target the military objective without harming civilians. That's how war should be."
Violates international law
Are you considering that a potential enemy might not follow international law?
"We have to. We will continue to fight for international law. But it's clear when you see how Russia is acting in Ukraine, where they use terror bombing of civilians as a war strategy, it goes against everything that is international law."
It seems like people's safety is an afterthought
Does that mean that the CAOC puts the people of Bodø at risk precisely because Putin does not respect international law?
"CAOC or no CAOC, if Putin decides to terror bomb Norway, it could affect anyone. Our goal is to prevent that from happening. We do not want war on Norwegian soil," says Gerhardsen.
"Therefore, we must have allied presence and a stronger defense. If war with Russia resembles what is happening in Ukraine, that would be absolutely terrible. It must not happen."
Saves money
Was the change of location made to save money?
"It was primarily to get started quickly. It is also about the fact that we have now built up a temporary CAOC that functions and is going very well. There are already 160 people working there. The Armed Forces came to us and said they want this instead of closing down and establishing at a new location. That we rather continue, develop, and use what is here at the air station. It is a practical and pragmatic decision," says Gerhardsen.
She also confirms that it is cheaper to keep the CAOC in the city than to renovate the mountain facility at Reitan.
Others are rearming
While we wait for the regulation on shelters, the coverage rate is reduced year by year. Not only by demolition, but also due to migration to the cities in the North, such as Bodø and Tromsø.
In the Total Preparedness Report, the government writes that it is "irresponsible in the current security policy situation to maintain the decision from 1998, which in practice over time means a controlled phasing out of the measure with the highest protection for the civilian population in war."
They also point out that other countries around Norway are strengthening this type of measure. Finland, on their part, never disarmed.
Keeps expemption scheme
Shelters in Norway cover about 45 percent of the population. In comparison, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden have coverage rates of about 90, 80, and 70 percent, respectively.
The government believes that it would be appropriate to impose such requirements on both public and private projects, in light of the need for increased preparedness against various types of scenarios.
Pending the parliamentary hearing, however, the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning will not discontinue the current practice of granting exemptions from building shelters in new buildings until new regulations and criteria are in place.
Security as an afterthought
Former leader of Bodø Socialist Youth, Anton Andreassen (21), was part of the panel at Lytring. He criticizes Bodø municipality and the Ministry of Defense, arguing that people's safety is being sidelined.
"It seems like people's safety is an afterthought. First, the NATO center is coming to the city. And then afterward, they are going to think about bomb shelters and buffer zones. It's completely wrong," says Andreassen.
Do you think the location of the NATO center in the city comes at the expense of the residents of Bodø?
"Yes, the mayor seems desperate to get the NATO center here, and it doesn't seem like he has much consideration for the people who live here or what security measures should have been taken in advance."
The youth politician believes it seems like the costs has been vital in choosing Bodø airport over Reitan.
"I think this decision does something to the identity of the city. We become a military city, and perhaps less young people will want to move to such a city. I don't think this is the right choice for Bodø at all."
Voted down
In the processing of the NATO center in the Bodø city council in February, a proposal from the Socialist Left Party was voted down. The proposal involved a requirement for a briefing that would illuminate the consequences for the civilian population in war and peace.
The party fears that the establishment will seize areas intended for urban development and create insecurity in peacetime. However, their most serious concern is that the center will constitute a possible bomb target close to the urban area in a war situation.
Important to assess the consequences and risks of placing such an institution in Bodø
The relocation has created both political unrest in Bodø and concern among residents. This became evident during the debate at the Stormen library.
Several in the audience argued that the decision was made without considering the safety of the residents.
Marte Gerhardsen, you heard the resistance from the audience here. What do you think about that?
"I think it's completely legitimate to be concerned, and it's good that people speak up. At the same time, there has been an almost unanimous majority for this in Bodø's city council. But I respect that there are different opinions about this."
Bomb target?
The moderator for the debate, editor at High North News Arne O. Holm, simply asked the panel if the new NATO headquarters makes Bodø a legitimate and more exposed bomb target?
Tobias Köhler answered yes.
Mayor Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen (Conservative) is nevertheless enthusiastic about the establishment and refers to the Ministry of Defense regarding facilitation for civilians.
"The security situation in Europe is as it is, and we want to support the nation when the defense chief asks us to."
"Madness"
Ingebrigtsen has long wanted a permanent solution for the NATO center in Bodø.
"We have marketed the military infrastructure we have here in the city. It would be madness not to take advantage of it. The best way for us in Bodø and for Norway to prevent an attack is to build ourselves stronger, so that the threshold for attacking becomes so high that it doesn't happen."
The relocation can also be economically beneficial as the Ministry of Defense is in dialogue with the municipality about re-purchasing areas within the air station.
Marte Gerhardsen says that Russia is still occupied with the war in Ukraine, but that it can change quickly.
"Our goal is to be well prepared by 2030," says the state secretary.
This means that the government and Bodø municipality have just under four years to establish an updated crisis plan that encompasses the entire population of Bodø.
