– Norway functions as an aircraft carrier for the USA
News
On Thursday, central defense politicians met for a debate on “Future Defense”. There, they discussed, among other things, alliance policy with the United States and NATO.
– Norway functions as an aircraft carrier for the USA. Does it strengthen our security that we become a platform for military force against Russia?
Rødt politician Bjørnar Moxsnes asked this in connection with key Norwegian defense politicians meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss issues surrounding the development of the Armed Forces.
Staff shortages and streamlining were key issues. Cooperation with the United States was also among those discussed. It was linked in particular to the situation used along the Russian-Ukrainian border.
The panel consisted of several key politicians. Minister of Defense Odd-Roger Enoksen (SV) was among them. In addition, several members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee were present: Bjørnar Moxnes (R), Ingrid Fiskaa (SV),
See the whole debate here: The defense of the future: Debate on the development of the Armed Forces
There was considerable agreement on the growing threat to the east of Norway, but the instruments for dealing with them show clear political differences.
Wants increased collaboration
There is disagreement about how we should cooperate with allied nations in Europe and NATO. Minister of Defense Enoksen emphasizes the importance of international cooperation.
– We are dependent on our alliance partners. We intend to develop this also with our Nordic alliance partners, without it being at the expense of NATO, he says.
He elaborates on increased cooperation in northern Norway, with the United States and the United Kingdom, among others, leading to relaxation with Russia.
Elvestuen, Tybring-Gjedde and Elvenes are the only ones in that close cooperation is important for Norway’s security situation. But not everyone on the panel thinks the US presence is just positive.
– How close should Norway be to the United States, Fiskaas asks.
«Base agreement» and great power rivalry
Among other things, she points to the proposal, which she describes as the “base agreement with the United States”, which among other things means that the Americans will have an increased presence in Norway. The agreement will be discussed in the Storting this spring.
– We can take a larger part of the tasks ourselves, so we do not let the United States get ever closer to the border with Russia, and thus help to fire up during the great power rivalry, she believes.
Minister of Defense Enoksen, does not share this view. In a debate post published on 2 February, he wrote that “it is misleading to call the supplementary agreement a base agreement, as some critical voices do”.
Read a post from the Minister of Defense about the agreement: The supplementary agreement with the USA will strengthen Norway’s security
Bjørnar Moxnes, on the other hand, was clearer, and believed that Norway must regain sovereignty in the North.
– Norway functions as an aircraft carrier for the USA against Russia. Does it strengthen our security that we become a platform for military force against Russia?