Moscow is building up its weapons stockpiles much faster than Nato allies had anticipated, creating a sense of urgency, the general said
Norway must ramp up defence spending in the face of a potential war with Russia within three years, the country’s armed forces chief has warned.
General Eirik Kristoffersen said in an interview with Dagbladet, a Norwegian newspaper, that time was running out to build up the nation’s defences in the face of an increasingly unpredictable Russia.
“The current window of opportunity will remain open for a year or two, perhaps three, which is when we will have to invest even more in our defence,” Gen Kristoffersen said in the interview, published on Sunday.
“We do not know what will become of Russia in three years. We need to prepare a strong national defence to be able to meet an uncertain and unpredictable world,” he added.
The Norwegian general said Moscow was building up its weapons stockpiles much faster than Nato allies had anticipated, adding to the sense of urgency.
Norway is part of NATO, and has strong incentives to make sure that its neighbours aren’t at risk of being invaded. They still have reason to want to make sure Russia wouldn’t be able to invade.
What do you mean?
Finland and Sweden getting invaded is terrible for Norway’s economy’s and plenty of individual lives, so Norway has a natural interest in making sure those countries are well defended, either through their own means or through diplomacy, regardless of their own individual risk of being attacked by Russia.
Yes, many in Norway have wanted to establish a nordic defense agreement, but this is now dead as Sweden and Finland are joining NATO. That being said, individually Finland and Sweden have much more military strength than Norway.
Any other Nordic people, are like an extension of ourselves. There’s more difference between a western and eastern Norwegian, than a eastern Norwegian and a west Swede. It would essentially be like they invaded us. We would without a doubt support Sweden and Finland from the start.