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Norwegian soldiers to train in Russia

State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense Roger Ingebrigtsen and chief of the Norwegian border guards Lieutenant Colonel Jørn

Start with small-scale joint exercises in both countries.

Location

Norwegian and Russian Defence ministry officials agree for the first time to let their army soldiers have common training on land. The officials met in Moscow this week.

- We are not talking about exercises with brigades or larger divisions, says state secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Defence Roger Ingebrigtsen to NTB. Ingebrigtsen is in Moscow and has talks with both Defence Ministry officials and representatives from Russia’s Security Council.

-  This is historical, says Roger Ingebrigtsen.

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Norway’s Royal navy and Russia’s Northern Fleet have trained together several times, like during the exercise Pomor 2011 earlier this year, but this is the first time joint army soldier training will be on land.

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According to State Secretary Ingebrigtsen, the idea is to let Russian soldiers train on Norwegian soil and Norwegian soldiers to train in Russia.