“United areas” means areas where the Americans decide – Document
The government has presented a supplementary agreement on military cooperation with the United States. It means that the Americans get four bases in Norway where they have full control. It is very special that it is a Labor government that presents such an agreement to the Storting, even though it was the Solberg government that negotiated the original.
The agreement was negotiated under the Solberg government and was signed in the spring of 2021. As the agreement is a matter of particular importance, the Storting’s consent to enter into it is necessary before it can enter into force. The agreement was on general consultation autumn 2021.
What is special and new is what is said about the “united areas”.
Through agreements, so-called “agreed areas” can be created, which will be important in the further development of defense co-operation. Fire areas will be created at the airports at Sola, Evenes and Rygge and the naval station at Ramsund. The agreement allows for more agreed areas to be created in the future.
There is nothing in the press release from the Ministry of Defense that it is American sovereignty that applies inside the base.
Before, we had pre-storage of equipment so that the Americans would not have to carry heavier equipment in a stressful situation, or run out of ammunition.
But this is something completely different. It is American bases on Norwegian soil, which are under American command. It is wishful thinking to say that this is a continuation of the usual policy and that the Russians will not react.
– Norway and the United States have worked well together on the defense of Norway for over 70 years. The agreement is entered into with full respect for Norwegian sovereignty, Norwegian laws and Norway’s obligations under international law. It does not change Norwegian base and nuclear policy, call rules or Norwegian restrictions on the storage of certain types of weapons on Norwegian territory. There is thus no reason for Russia to react to the agreement. Allied reinforcement is fundamental in NATO cooperation and well known to Russia, says Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
Is there not a certain drop in this statement: -No reason for Russia to react… ..?
There is reason to believe that the United States’ importance for Norwegian defense will grow. The United States fills the void left by a weakened Norwegian defense. What if the US and Norway view a conflict differently? Will Norway be able to become a starting point for activity that the government or the Norwegian defense disagree with?
Previously, Norway has boasted that we do not allow foreign bases on Norwegian soil. Now we do it and the government claims that nothing has changed.
Anyone who follows US security policy in the United States and the projection of power around the world will be aware that there is now a military-industrial complex larger and more powerful than ever, and they have the support of a war party that brings in politicians from both parties.
Awareness of this is high in the United States. It was this war party that caused the wars after 9/11 to drag on for twenty years.
But Americans are tired of dying in the wars of others.
Defense cooperation between Norway and the United States is very important for our security