The Impact of the Soviet Military Presence in the Arctic Region on Norwegian Security Policies

• Main Author: Johnson, Carl E.
• Other Authors: ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1990
• Subjects: Government and Political Science; Defense Systems; Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; Undersea and Antisubmarine Warfare; *USSR; *NORWAY; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *FOREIGN POLICY; THESES; REDUCTION; CONTINENTAL SHELVES; MARINE TRANSPORTATION; PENINSULAS; BARENTS SEA; LOGISTICS PLANNING; WESTERN SECURITY(INTERNATIONAL); INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; ANTISUBMARINE WARFARE; MILITARY GEOGRAPHY; ARCTIC OCEAN ISLANDS; MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN); IMPACT; NATO; WARSAW PACT COUNTRIES; SVALBARD ISLANDS; KOLA PENINSULA; GEOSTRATEGY; NORTH CAPE(NORWAY); GIUK(GREENLAND ICELAND UNITED KINGDOM); NNWFZ(NORDIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREE ZONE); SLOC(SEA LINES OF COMMUNICATION); Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Svalbard; Barents Sea; Kola Peninsula; Greenland; Norway; North Cape; Iceland; kola peninsula; Northern Norway
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA227428; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA227428

This thesis analyzes the security issues in the North Cape region of northern Norway, including the Svalbard Islands and the continental shelf areas of the Barents Sea. It examines the geostrategic significance of the region, the Soviet force structure in the Kola peninsula and the Norwegian defense forces in the Arctic region. The paper then details the current political and economic issues between norway and the Soviet Union that impact on security in the Arctic. Finally, it examines the Soviet goals and objectives in the North Cape area, and assesses the Norwegian defense policies and NATO reinforcement plans designed to counter Soviet aggression in the Arctic region. The study concludes that despite the force reductions in central Europe by both NATO and the Warsaw Pact the strategic importance of the Barents Sea region, for both security and economic reasons, will keep tensions between Norway and the Soviet Union high in the coming decade. The author postulates that the Soviets will be seeking a co- tenancy agreement with the Norwegians for control of the continental shelf area between the North Cape and the Svalbard Islands. Keywords: Theses; International security; Defense systems; Antisubmarine warfare; Military geography; Marine transportation; Arctic Ocean islands; International relations.