Norway prepares for potential Russian invasion, military chief says

Gen. Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway’s chief of defense, said Oslo does not rule out the possibility of a Russian incursion and is planning accordingly.

He said Russia could take such action to protect its nuclear facilities in the north. Those nuclear assets are “the only thing they have left,” he said.

Kristoffersen said he does not believe Russia is planning a full-scale invasion similar to its war in Ukraine. But he noted that a large share of Russia’s nuclear arsenal is based on the Kola Peninsula, near the Norwegian border. Those capabilities would be critical in the event of a conflict between Russia and NATO in other regions, the newspaper reported.

“We do not exclude this option, because for Russia it is still possible in order to ensure the protection of its nuclear potential, its retaliatory strike capability,” he said.

He added that Russia’s actions in the region have been less aggressive than its activity in the Baltic Sea.

“So far, all cases of airspace violations in our area have been linked to misunderstandings. Russia actively uses GPS jamming, and we believe that this interference also affects their aircraft,” he said.

Regarding the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, where a Russian settlement is located and which, under the 1920 treaty, has the status of a demilitarized zone, Kristoffersen said Russia “is adhering to the agreement,” and Norway does not plan to pursue militarization.

On Feb. 10, Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service said Russia does not intend to launch a military attack on NATO in 2026-2027 but will continue rebuilding its armed forces amid concerns over European Union rearmament.