Norway’s new Labor government considers Russia a neighbor with legitimacy in the region, believes it’s best that Norway's own military maintains presence in Russian border areas, no need for US and UK ships in Barents

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While the US considers Russia a competitor, “Norway, on the other hand, considers Russia to be a legitimate player in the Norwegian-Russian border areas.“…As of 10/14/21, Norway has a new government led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre who has led the Labour party since 2014. Under the last Labour-led government led by Jens Stolenberg, Støre served as Minister of  Foreign Affairs. Anniken Huitfeldt, the new Foreign Minister, has represented the Labour party in parliament since 2005. The new government met Norway’s king and crown prince at the Royal Palace.

11/30/21, “The Støre government will restrict allied traffic near Russia,” vg.no, Alf Bjarne Johnsen, Riga, Latvia

“The Labor Party wants the planes and vessels from allied countries to keep some distance from the Norwegian-Russian border areas in the north, according to Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor Party).

“Two rounds of British and American naval exercises in the Barents Sea in 2020 received a great deal of attention, especially when they sailed all the way into Russia’s economic zone in September last year [2020].

Then a Norwegian frigate, KNM «Thor Heyerdahl» sailed with British and American vessels east of the Varangerfjord. They must have been at least 50 nautical miles from land. It is well outside Russia’s sea border, but within the country’s economic zone.

[9/29/20, “Norwegian frigates sailed into Russia’s economic zone:” “The United States and Britain want to practice more with warships in the Barents Sea, in the sea areas near Russia. This puts Norway’s desire to keep low tensions with Russia under pressure."]

– It is important for Norway to be militarily present in our immediate areas. But very close to the Russian border, we believe that we do it best ourselves, with Norwegian planes and Norwegian frigates. It is fundamental for us, says Anniken Huitfeldt to VG.

She is in Latvia’s capital Riga, at her first ministerial meeting in NATO as the new Norwegian Foreign Minister.

– Does the government want vessels and aircraft from allied countries such as the USA and the UK to keep greater distance from Russia?

– I want a dialogue with the UK and the US about it. They have to make their decisions. But we must safeguard Norwegian interests. It is in Norway’s interest to take care of these areas on its own, with the Norwegian defense, says Huitfeldt.

Her view is close to the former commander of the Armed Forces’ operational headquarters, Rune Jakobsen gave to VG last year. It attracted attention when he went to great lengths to criticize these [US/UK] cruises in the Barents Sea:  

“We are trying to tell our partners that Norway is NATO in the north. The Russians are used to Norwegian planes and vessels being present in the Barents Sea. And that the E-service’s vessel “Marjata” sails there. This is how we want it to be in the future as well: That it is not American P8 surveillance aircraft, but our own that fly in the airspace east of Andøya" said Jakobsen.

[7/11/2020, “FOH commander: Does not want Allied warships and aircraft in the Barents Sea:“ “Norway did not want to provoke Russia. This is how the Armed Forces’ chief of operations explains why Norwegian vessels did not participate when warships from the NATO countries USA and Great Britain sailed along the Kola Peninsula in May [2020]].

Fear only the United States

These sailings in the Barents Sea are the subject of a new book by defense researcher and lieutenant colonel Tormod Heier. He claims that Norwegian freedom of action vis-à-vis Russia has been weakened because Norway has become more dependent on the United States.

[7/11/20, “He refers to two Allied sailings in the Barents Sea in 2020: in May when Norway did not participate, and later in September when an American naval group and a Norwegian frigate sailed into the Russian economic zone.”…11/29/21, “What’s the problem with inviting the United States in? “Then we invite a great power that carries with it a different culture for how to handle tense situations. The Norwegian authorities are concerned with averting a crisis. While the United States is more concerned with winning a crisis with Russia, which the United States considers a strategic competitor. Norway, on the other hand, considers Russia to be a legitimate player in the Norwegian-Russian border areas,“ he tells VG.”]

“The Russians do not fear Norway. The Russians only fear the [rogue military dictatorship running the] United States “, writes Heier in the book “A marginal state going astray?” He believes that the Norwegian authorities must take part of the responsibility for Russia’s military equipment in Norway’s neighboring areas in the north.

No major US presence…

– But if we look at this in a historical perspective, there is no greater American presence now than in other parts of the post-war period.

The Støre government already announced in Hurdal that they would try to improve relations with Russia in the north. Both she and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre have already had talks with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

– It is important for Norway to balance deterrence and reassurance. And we are completely dependent on the security guarantee we get through NATO, says Huitfeldt.”

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Added:

“Big Stupid Bully” US in Norway: In 2018 the “American naval vessel USS Iwo Jima participated in the NATO exercise Trident Juncture in Trøndelag in 2018. Photo: Martha Holmes”...Norway plays host to largest NATO joint exercise since the Cold War. Trident Juncture will also test Norway’s ability to receive and handle support from its NATO allies. In preparation, soldiers from around the world have been taking cold weather training. The Norwegian School of Winter Warfare holds annual winter courses. “An expected 50,000 participants from over 30 nations will take part.…”There are reported to be 10,000 vehicles, 250 aircraft and 65 vessels. This includes Super Puma helicopters, the Canadian maritime patrol aircraft ‘Aurora’, and eight Hornets from the Finnish Air Force. How much does Trident Juncture cost? NATO and the Norwegian defence sector have signed contracts with Norwegian businesses at 

a total of NOK 1.5 billion.”…

 

 

 

 

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Comment:  Continuous warfare is the US Deep State’s only business product. Without US taxpayers, there would be no Deep State. To separate US taxpayers from Deep State, the US merely needs to quietly split into 3 or 4 countries. Why not?

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