Norwegian Defense Chief Eirik Kristoffersen cooperates just as well with American colleagues as before, and says that nothing has changed in military cooperation with the United States. He tries to remain calm about NATO’s future.
Trump Should Stop Talking like That
“I hope he will stop talking like that, it undermines the alliance, and it makes it very difficult to develop plans without being distracted by statements that the United States must have Greenland.” That’s what Defense Chief Eirik Kristoffersen says to the Forsvarets forum about US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric recently about Greenland.
During his annual lecture at the Oslo Military Society, the Chief of Defense spoke about what is happening around Greenland today from his perspective.
“We all know that Greenland is part of Denmark and that Greenlanders decide their own future. It is not appropriate to talk like that,” says Kristoffersen about Trump’s speech.
He reassured those present from the stage by saying that the relationship with the US at a military level is as strong as before. Kristoffersen has no doubt that nothing has shaken the defense cooperation with the Americans.
EU Is Unable to Build Successful Military Alliance
The Chief of Defense has absolute faith in NATO in the future too. He has no faith that the EU can build an equally successful military alliance.
“NATO has a clear role in deterring Russia from aggression against Europe and NATO is best placed to do that. If we fill those plans with both content and strength, it will be a stronger NATO and better Norwegian security,” says Kristoffersen.
When the winter exercise Cold Response is carried out in March, there will be around 4,000 American soldiers in place in Northern Norway. The US still has access to a number of bases in Norway.
Breathing with the Stomach
Kristoffersen understands that people may be skeptical that the defense cooperation is standing firm.
“I think that we are all very unsure of what Trump really means, because he comes up with different proposals almost from day to day, so I understand that uncertainty very well.”
— Do You Feel Any Kind of Unrest or Uncertainty About the Way Forward?
“I am breathing a little with my stomach and trying to keep a steady course, and then we will see how this ends. The US is a democratic country with a principle of separation of powers, with a Congress and a Senate that must approve various matters that the president may come up with. So I am waiting to see what the outcome of the statements that have been made will be,” responds Kristoffersen.
Norwegian Officers Clarified
Denmark’s Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen stated during a meeting in Brussels for NATO defense ministers that they want to establish a NATO force in Greenland.
It is too early for the Chief of Defense to say anything about what Norway will contribute.
“Norway wants allied plans and presence in the Arctic and that Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands and Norway are looking at how we can increase security in the Arctic is very good. I have not been involved in what those plans will end up with specifically so far.”
Two Norwegian Officers Sent to Greenland
Kristoffersen informed both the head of Joint Force Command in Norfolk and Saceur, NATO’s top military leader in Europe, that Norway was sending two officers to Greenland to look at future training and exercises to increase security in the Arctic.
“They responded positively to that,” says the general.
It was the Danish Chief of Defense Michael Hyldgaard who requested two officers from Norway to Greenland to plan future military activity.
Eirik Kristoffersen was positive and sent the two staff officers Einar Storli and Olaf von Porat Erichsen from the Defense Operations Headquarters. They are on their way back to Norway.
“Then they will take home what they have done, and then they will contribute to the development of the regional plans that are being designed together with the American-led command in Norfolk.”
Source: Forsvarets forum (in Norwegian)