Norwegian Armed Forces: Disconnected with the Norwegian Security Policy?

• Main Author: Baekken, Kjell I.
• Other Authors: ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Government and Political Science; Military Forces and Organizations; *NORWAY; *SECURITY; *GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN); *COOPERATION; *POLICIES; *MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN); *POLITICAL ALLIANCES; MILITARY FORCE LEVELS; UNITED NATIONS; MILITARY BUDGETS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; OFFSHORE; NATURAL GAS; CRUDE OIL; RESOURCE MANAGEMENT; EUROPEAN UNION; JOINT MILITARY ACTIVITIES; OPERATIONAL READINESS; THREATS; UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; NATO; RUSSIA; *NORWEGIAN ARMED FORCES; *SECURITY POLICY; *MILITARY COOPERATION; FORCE STRUCTURE; NORWEGIAN NAVY; NORWEGIAN AIR FORCE; NORWEGIAN ARMY; HOME GUARD; ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE; COLLECTIVE DEFENSE; COLLECTIVE SECURITY; NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY; SOVEREIGNTY; NORTHERN NORWAY; OFFSHORE RESOURCES; NORDIC COUNCIL; EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA; INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; RESOURCE PROTECTION; NORDIC SECURITY PARTNERSHIP; Norway; Northern Norway
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA517926; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA517926

This paper addresses one aspect of Norwegian security policy: the Norwegian Armed Forces. It looks into the contemporary state of the Norwegian Armed Forces, and examines if they are organized, equipped, and trained in a manner that serves their primary purpose: to be one of Norway's most effective tools in securing its vital interests. Norwegian sovereignty and the safeguarding of its offshore wealth are vital objectives, so it is understandable that the Norwegian government has given priority to the Navy and the Air Force. However, Norway also needs a trustworthy land component to support the two other Services. Current Norwegian Security Policy is outlined in White Paper 48, which clearly states that working with its allies is vital and that Norway will continue to rely on and cooperate with the United Nations, NATO, and the United States. Since most of this cooperation is related to ground operations, the author contends that the Army should be given more priority than it has today. A new and somewhat more potent Army will ensure that a possible future aggressor cannot easily seize key infrastructure needed by the two other Services in Northern Norway, or natural resources offshore in the North. The Northern strategy needs an adequate land component to be feasible. Strategy Research Project.