Meanwhile, however, there is a growing Norwegian wariness about the rapidly increasing military self-confidence of Russia. Only over the last eight months, Norwegian F16 fighter jets have on 28 occasions been in the air to mark territory to approaching Russian bombers. In the same period, a total of 60 Russian bombers have been registered along the northern Norwegian coast
Researcher John Kristen Skogan from the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) says to broadcaster NRK the flight activities resembles “the situation we had during the Cold War”.
Focus on cooperation
The Norwegian government rightly emphasises the positive dynamics in Norwegian-Russian relations and the many joint interests in the High North. At the same time, however, the increasing wariness about Russian positions among key cabinet ministers can not be concealed.
In a comment to newspaper Aftenposten, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre maintains that “Russia is not a threat to Norway”. Similar statements have been made by Defence Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen. At the same time, both politicians underline that they keep a close eye on Russian developments.
For Norway, the High North is top priority both for the foreign minister and the defence minister. Minister Støre has on the one hand made the government’s High North policy his top prestige project, and cooperation with Russia is presented as a prerequisite not only for stability in the High North but in all of Europe.
Defence Minister Strøm-Erichsen on the other hand is heavily investing in new military hardware, arguing that the major need for it in the country’s northern waters.
The Russian approach
From the Russian side, there is similar growing focus both on the importance of military modernization and on the country’s role in the Arctic. Last week, the whole Russian Security Council assembled at Franz Josef Land for a session. Only three days later the council presented a rough sketch on the country’s new Arctic strategy, according to which the region will become of top economic and security importance.
President Medvedev has on his side in several recent speeches highlighted that good relations with neighbouring countries is priority number one. In a newspaper comment in Aftenposten, Russia’s ambassador to Norway, Sergey Andreev underlines that the circumstances of the Georgia conflict “must not mechanically be applied to other neighbouring states”.
More cooperation
The Russian statements can be assessed as a Russian commitment to continued constructive cooperation with Norway and other neighbours in the North.
The growing Russian focus on military modernization and on Arctic resource development must also be seen as a healthy sign of a normal state investing in national interests.
For Norway, the best way to counter a growing domestic unease with Russia will be more cooperation initiatives and closer relations.
BarentsObserver editorial
