Distinguished Audience,
“We lived in a democracy. But then, we felt the walls closing in around us.” These words were spoken by Gunnar Sønsteby to a school class in Rjukan in the film Nr. 24. “We felt the walls closing in around us.”
In just over a month, Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine will enter its fourth year. It is almost inconceivable how many lives Putin is willing to sacrifice in his imperialist attempt to conquer Ukraine and the scale of destruction and suffering he has inflicted on the Ukrainian people. This use of force cannot prevail. It is existential for Ukraine but also poses a serious threat to Norwegian and European security and the international rules-based order.
Others are also feeling the weight of Russian pressure and influence. I visited Moldova shortly before their elections last autumn. Massive attempts at interference, vote-buying, and worse have been observed there. The pro-Western forces barely prevailed. The outcome was not as positive in Georgia after its disputed presidential election.
We are now facing a more dangerous and unpredictable neighbour. Russia threatens the use of nuclear weapons, and last year, they revised their doctrine on the use of these weapons. Nuclear arms have become even more prominent as a tool of power in international politics. Their rhetoric grows harsher and more unyielding. Simultaneously, the strategic importance of the High North is increasing. The Arctic’s strategic significance for Russia also enhances allied interest in the Barents Sea and Arctic regions. This is our neighbourhood—our most important strategic area. It is crucial that we ensure situational awareness and presence in the North alongside our allies. We seek predictability and stability through calibrated military activity to deter Russia while avoiding misunderstandings and unintended escalation.