“Norway’s National Security Can Only Be Maintained Through Close Cooperation With Our Allies”. Security politics in the recent Norwegian High North whitepaper leads to increased militarization of the Arctic, according to Lieutenant Colonel Tormod Heier. “Norway’s deterrence and defense capacity is inextricably linked to our NATO membership, in which the USA constitutes the biggest military capacity”, says Hårek Elvenes (Conservatives), MP and member of the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and Defense Policy.
Labor Party Leader Jonas Gahr Støre: “Half-Hearted High North Policy” Labor Party leader Støre argues that there is a big gap between words and actions in the new High North whitepaper that was launched last Friday. “This government has neither prioritized High North policies, developed new policies nor taken new initiatives in its meeting with the region’s opportunities and challenges”, says the Labor Party leader.
The High North Whitepaper – Or That Time When A Seal Kissed the Minister Commentary: One of the Norwegian government’s strongest cards during the presentation of the High North whitepaper was frequent meetings with North Norwegian actors. Or in the words of Trade Minister Iselin Nybø in a video interview with the Nordlys daily: “One of the funniest meetings was at Polaria in Tromsø, when I was kissed by a seal.”
Increased Risk of Espionage, Digital Attacks and Disinformation The Norwegian government today presented its new whitepaper on public security as well as the revised long-term plan for the Armed Forces. “Never before has technology threatening states’ security been available for so many”, says Minister of Justice and Public Security Monica Mæland (Conservatives).
The Norwegian Government Wants to Win the High North with PM Erna Solberg as the Tour Guide Commentary: Polar expeditions are a constitutional part of Norwegian history. And today, expedtion manager Erna Solberg enters Northern Norway along with 11 cabinet members. Only Svalbard has been excluded from this modern expedition into the High North.
Top-Heavy Government Delegation Tours Northern Norway The Norwegian government is to present its new whitepaper about the High North this autumn, and the government wants input from the Arctic. “We want to hear from as many as possible about how to do this”, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
MP Expects Answer to Three Specific Arctic Challenges On Monday, the main lines of the upcoming Norwegian whitepaper on the Arctic will be presented. MP Eirik Sivertsen expects a more progressive Arctic policy than we see today and wants the whitepaper to respond to three main challenges.
