European countries are gradually changing their policies towards Russia. This is especially true in those countries that have a long history of relations with Russia or border it.
This is the case, for example, in Norway. This country was among the first to sign the Washington Treaty in 1949, so it is one of the oldest members of NATO, and it shares borders with the Russian Federation. According to Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, this helps Norwegian politicians to better understand Russian intentions and take measures in response.
In his comments on the sidelines of the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, the minister noted that Norway not only provides substantial military assistance to Ukraine (the country is among the largest contributors) but is also preparing to sign a bilateral security agreement with Kyiv. According to him, negotiations are going well, and largely done. He hopes that Norway be able to sign the agreement “very soon”.
At the same time, Norway has been a frequent target of Russian spies and other influences. Moscow has also repeatedly voiced military threats. However, official Oslo’s response to this is very adequate – the country is not only increasing its defense spending and strengthening its army but also actively countering Russian spies. A year ago, in April 2023, Norway expelled 15 Russian ‘intelligence officers’ operating under the cover of diplomatic positions from the embassy. In 2022, they also expelled three Russians.
Norway is also actively fighting Russian influence, particularly in the information sphere. The government is working very hard on broader societal resilience, including against cyber threats and false information. According to Mr. Eide, this is much higher on the agenda now over the last two years than it was ten years ago.
Norway is setting a good example for the whole Europe on how to counter Kremlin regime. After all, Russia is a country that only understands the language of force, so only active actions can prevent possible aggression against Europe.
