Forsvarspolitiske implikasjoner av ressursforvaltningen i nord

• Main Author: Hopen, Inge Erlend
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: Norwegian Bokmål
• Published: Forsvarets høgskole 2007
• Subjects: Forsvarspolitikk; Svalbard; Norway
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11250/99942

This paper presents implications on Norwegian defence politics from the management of the resources in the north. Geographically the paper focuses on the Norwegian economical zone and the fishery protection zone around Svalbard. In timeline the paper focuses on the last 5 to 10 years and the present. It is especially the fishing in the fishery protection zone around Svalbard that causes some implications on Norwegian politics. The Russians have been increasingly concerned about the Norwegian management of Svalbard and the fishery protection zone. In April 2001, Norway for the first time ever took arrest in a Russian trawler in the protection zone. Although the trawler undoubtedly had committed serious violations of the fishing regulations, Russia claimed that Norway had no right to arrest foreign citizens in a zone not recognised internationally as being under Norwegian jurisdiction. Secondly the paper presents possible motives for terrorism and sabotage against the Norwegian oil industry, and the implications on the defence politics. Norway has traditionally been a low-risk country for international terrorism. However, this situation is changing, as the world is becoming more globalized and due to the emergences of multinational terrorist networks. The Norwegian oil industry’s importance has increased considerably and several big European countries now depend on Norwegian supplies. The Norwegian oil industry might therefore become a target for terrorists who want to harm our European partners. There will always be implications on the defence politics from the management of the resources in the north. The degree and the risk involved will vary and demand different actions from the Norwegian authorities.