Norway's Arctic Military Buildup Plan Is Behind Schedule
The Armed Forces are still keeping their cards close to their chest regarding their new brigade in the north. While the municipalities are waiting anxiously, the details about the Finnmark Brigade remain locked behind closed doors.
The Armed Forces in Finnmark are to be equipped for billions of kroner.
According to what NRK has learned, the Armed Forces were supposed to present their concept selection report (KVU) for the Finnmark Brigade on Monday, but instead chose to hold back the plans.
KVU is the professional plan for how the brigade will be built up. The report was supposed to be ready before Christmas last year.
Massive Growth
By 2032, the Armed Forces will be significantly strengthened on the border with Russia.
The Finnmark Brigade is to grow from the current 1,500 soldiers to around 5,000.
There are therefore high expectations for the geographical distribution of the forces, as it will have a lot to say for the people and local communities in the county.
Mayor: The Most Important Thing Is That the Information Is Correct
Although the public has to wait longer for answers, the mayor of one of the most central defense municipalities is taking the wait in stride.
“The most important thing is that the information is correct and reliable when it arrives. Better that than a KVU that is half-finished,” says Jo Inge Hesjevik in Porsanger.
Jo Inge Hesjevik is the mayor of Porsanger. He believes that the headquarters of the new Finnmark Brigade should be located in the municipality.
Monica Nielsen is a permanent deputy representative from Finnmark in the Storting and is a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
She expects that the Armed Forces need some more time to plan how the brigade will best be organized to strengthen the defense capability in Finnmark.
“I know many are waiting to see how the organization will turn out, but at the same time I am concerned that it is the Armed Forces that knows best how to best defend Finnmark and the country.”
Expectations in the East and West
Today, the Finnmark Brigade is located in Sør-Varanger and Porsanger. Much of the new development will take place here.
Hesjevik has previously told NRK that he is looking forward to more activity in the municipality, but that they have to move around. He also believes that the headquarters of the brigade should be located in Porsanger.
However, the government also wants a presence in other parts of the county, and has pointed to Alta as a current alternative.
The mayor of Nesseby is concerned that the weight of the brigade will end up too far from the border with Russia. That is why she also wants soldiers in the innermost part of the Varangerfjord.
In September, the ministry confirmed that Alta is relevant. State Secretary Marte Gerhardsen told the Norwegian Defense Forum that it is natural to distribute the brigade’s functions across several locations.
The then deputy mayor Jan Martin Rishaug commented on this:
“It will be very exciting to follow the development and see what the Chief of Defense ultimately ends up with. We are happy with everything we may get.”
Secret Plans
Although the Chief of Defense has long since submitted his recommendations, the Defense Staff has chosen to keep the report out of the public eye.
The reason is security policy considerations.
Kåre Haugen, head of the investment department in the Defense Staff, explained the secrecy to NRK in January:
“The KVU itself is always intended to be classified, because it deals with a concept for defending Norway in the north. It must be classified.”
Source: NRK (in Norwegian)