Page 19 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

How do you see the changes in just three years with regard to Norwegian defense?

Eikenes: It is a significant period of change.
When I was in Washington, we were primarily focused on out of area operations, counter insurgency and
counter terrorism.

Now with the Crimean crisis and the modernization of Russian forces, questions of national defense and
protecting the North Atlantic have returned to the fore.

We are seeing a Russia that is becoming less predictable, more assertive about its interests, and also,
undergoing a fundamental military in modernization, which makes it far more militarily capable than it was.

And indeed, Russia is modernizing more rapidly than many anticipated.

And those new capabilities are being joined to a growing debate about sea control and sea denial strategy.

Question: Clearly part of this is the Arctic challenge.

When you put the territorial defense challenge with the Arctic one, what do you see?

Eikenes: As you know, the High North is a strategically important area for Norway.
We have jurisdiction over ocean areas that are roughly seven times the size of our land mass and which are
almost the size of the Mediterranean.

Obviously with that kind of maritime challenge we are looking to shape enhanced capabilities, and that is one
reason we are buying the P-8, coast guard vessels, F-35s and new submarines.

Question: The UK seems to have returned to the North Atlantic defense area.
How important is that bilateral relationship for Norway?

Eikenes: It is very significant.

We have a small number of allies, the US and the UK being especially important ones, shaping new
capabilities for North Atlantic defense.

We are looking at ways to enhance that working relationship.

Even when the North Atlantic defense part took a dip after the end of the Cold War, the working relationship
with close allies remained.

We are building on that experience and trust as we add new capabilities.

It will help as well that we will fly the same aircraft as the RAF and the Royal Navy for the first time in a very,
very long time.

The P-8 piece is crucial as well as with indications that the US Navy will operate P-8s out of Keflavik and
collaborate with the UK and Norway in joint operations over the North Atlantic.

For us, these bilateral relationships have always complemented our NATO membership and will continue to do
so.

Page 18