Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Defence

U.S. Marines to Spend $7 Million on New Ski Equipment for Soldiers

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Oh boy, somebody in the winter sports segment is getting a serious military contract. As reported by the Marine Corps Times, a publication catering to active and retired Marines and established in the 1940s, the military will spend $7 million to replace aging ski equipment for its snow ops units mostly stationed in Norway.

According to the publication that spoke with military members with knowledge of the buy, the Marines will purchase 2,648 sets of skis, boots and bindings “for scout snipers, reconnaissance Marines and some infantry Marines.”

“No Marine is going to leave here unless they know how to ski,” Commandant Gen. Robert Neller told Marines in Norway during a recent visit. Apparently, with potential conflicts lingering in North Korea and Russia, the Marines “arctic preparedness,” has recently come into question in military circles. Marine Corps Times also reported in April that the military segments’ backpacks used for alpine maneuvering were in tatters.

The interesting aspect of the story is the gear. There was little info on what type of ski the military will purchase, but according to Military.com, the Marines will purchase the ASNES Combat NATO ski with NATO bindings. The skis were apparently developed specifically for the Norwegian military. It wasn’t immediately clear if the bindings are of the free-heel variety or are able to be locked down like an alpine touring setup (has anyone introduced these guys to the good people at Dynafit). The Marines will begin purchasing the equipment during the second quater of 2018.

(theinertia)

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Royal House

Norway’s crown princess mistook undiagnosed disorder for early menopause

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Crown Princess of Norway has been experiencing a range of uncomfortable symptoms due to a mysterious condition that made her believe she was undergoing early menopause.

Princess Mette-Marit initially believed she’d begun early menopause after she started feeling dizzy and nauseated.

Norway’s royal palace recently revealed, however, that she’s suffering from a medical condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, according to People.

“I turned my head quickly, and it was like the whole world began to move,” she told Norway’s P3 radio station.

“I began to sweat and felt nauseous — I thought I’d started early menopause,” she continued.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo — also known as the crystal sickness — often leads to symptoms like the ones Princess Mette-Marit described such as nausea and dizziness.

The condition stems from issues within a person’s ear and can lead to bouts of vertigo, according to the Vestibular Disorders Association. While the ailment is often temporary, it’s known to come back in some people who suffer from it.

The princess was forced to cancel a scheduled appearance in November due to the disorder.

Mette-Marit has been Norway’s crown princess since 2001. She has three children with her husband, Crown Prince Haakon.

(NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)

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Defence

Marines to be prepared for a big fight

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Marine Corps commandant told about 300 Marines in Norway this week that they should be prepared for a “bigass fight” to come, remarks his spokesman later said were not in reference to any specific adversary but rather intended to inspire the troops.

“I hope I’m wrong, but there’s a war coming,” Gen. Robert Neller told the Marines on Thursday, according to Military.com. “You’re in a fight here, an informational fight, a political fight, by your presence.”

Neller was visiting a Marine rotational force near Trondheim, about 300 miles north of Oslo. The Marines have been stationed there since January. Their presence in Norway is intended to support operations by NATO and the U.S.  European Command, as well as to help the Marine Corps facilitate training in cold weather and mountainous conditions.

But Neller and other Corp leaders told the force they should be prepared for a change in their peacetime mission, should the need arise. In particular, Neller predicted the Pacific and Russia to be the focus of any conflict in the future outside of the Middle East, Military.com reported.

“Just remember why you’re here,” Sgt. Maj. Ronald Green told the troops, according to the military news site. “They’re watching. Just like you watch them, they watch you. We’ve got 300 Marines up here; we could go from 300 to 3,000 overnight. We could raise the bar.”

As the Marines’ top general, Neller is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagon’s senior-most leadership team responsible for contingency planning. It was at first unclear to what extent his comments were indicative of an actual war to come or merely meant as a pep talk for troops stationed far from home over the Christmas holiday.

Lt. Col. Eric Dent, a spokesman for the general, told The Washington Post Saturday night that Neller’s remarks “were intended to inspire and focus the Marines’ training.” He added the general had also told the troops none of the four countries he had referenced — Russia, China, Iran and North Korea — wanted to go to war.

“The thought of war has a way of motivating warriors to train hard and increase readiness. I cannot imagine any professional military leader suggesting to his or her Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen that we shouldn’t think that conflict is‎ pending,” Dent said in an email. “Being ready is a constant practice and refocusing. Neller and others have said, ‘If you want peace, train for war.’ That’s exactly what we want and are doing.”

With unusual fanfare, President Trump unveiled  a new National Security Strategy last week that cast China and Russia as competitors for global power and potential threats to the United States.

“China and Russia challenge American power, influence, and interests, attempting to erode American security and prosperity,” the document states. “They are determined to make economies less free and less fair, to grow their militaries, and to control information and data to repress their societies and expand their influence.”

As The Post’s Anne Gearan and Steven Mufson reported, however, the new national security strategy dances around Russia’s attempts to meddle in the 2016 presidential election, much in the way Trump has since he was elected:

Trump has publicly complimented Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him “very smart,” and has sought a better relationship with Russia after years of worsening ties under Obama. He has been openly skeptical of U.S. intelligence findings that Russia mounted a systematic effort to undermine the 2016 presidential election. But Trump has not reversed congressional sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, as Putin hoped he would.

The strategy document released Monday skirts the issue of Russia’s involvement in the presidential election.

“Through modernized forms of subversive tactics, Russia interferes in the domestic political affairs of countries around the world,” the document says.

(washingtonpost)

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Environment

Protecting biodiversity, Norwegian style

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

In the years since the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993, evidence has mounted that biodiversity around the world is in trouble.

During this time, numerous studies have found that the rate of extinctions is increasing. A 2017 study used the strongest language yet in describing the current “biological annihilation” and underlining “the seriousness for humanity of Earth’s ongoing sixth mass extinction event”.

Against this background, countries around the world are writing their National Biodiversity Action Plans to guide the development of their biodiversity policies.

Norway’s action plan will bring the world closer to realizing the biodiversity convention’s Aichi Targets. A main goal of these global targets is to ensure that, by 2020, “people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably”. While the Aichi Targets are global in scope, national action is essential to achieving them.

The Aichi Targets are reflected in Norway’s three national biodiversity targets:

  • Achieving good ecological status in ecosystems;
  • Safeguarding threatened species and habitats; and
  • Maintaining a representative selection of Norwegian nature (the conservation of areas covering the whole range of habitats and ecosystems).

A main goal of Norway’s biodiversity action plan is to ensure that the country’s nature management regime is sustainable and that pressure from human use is controlled to allow ecosystems to maintain “good ecological status.”

Expert committee set up

In 2016, the Ministry of Climate and Environment established an expert committee that began to develop scientifically based criteria to determine good ecological status. These criteria are the first step in developing management objectives for ecological status in different areas (see figure 1).

The expert committee defined good ecological condition as a condition where only small deviations from intact nature are accepted. Intact nature is defined as “not significantly affected by modern industry and systemic human effects”. The expert committee developed a baseline period against which to measure change. It looked at the “near past” – from 1960-1990 – calling it the “Normal Period”. It said extensive traditional land management practices, such as grazing, haymaking, fire and hunting, are “integral parts of semi-natural nature types”.

The committee identified seven properties that characterize ecosystems in good ecological condition. These properties relate to primary production, distribution of biomass between trophic levels, diversity of functional groups, important species and biophysical structure, area estimates in relation to species survival (landscape ecological patterns), changes in species composition, and abiotic factors.

Achieving good ecological status is based on the idea that well-functioning ecosystems benefit society as a whole, and that we have an obligation to pass them on in a healthy state to future generations.

Balancing different interests

One problem for the Norwegian authorities is the lack of clear, agreed upon management objectives in most ecosystems, even though “sustainable management” is specified as a goal in a number of national statutes. This results in differing views on the need for action and questions over how to strike a balance between different interests. Agreement on clearly defined management objectives for the different ecosystems would provide a better basis for making decisions that meet multiple objectives.

However, it will not necessarily be Norway’s objective to achieve good ecological status everywhere. If other public interests weigh more heavily, it may be decided that it is acceptable for parts of an ecosystem to have less than good status. These interests might include different land-use objectives and industrial uses such as forestry, agriculture, housing, fisheries, mining, transport and communications. How to weigh different interests will be examined and decided when management objectives are developed for the ecosystems. In addition, pressures that are not under national control, such as climate change, ocean acidification and long-range transport of pollutants, may make it impossible to achieve good ecological status everywhere.

The Government will consult stakeholders and develop management objectives for ecological status in different ecosystems. This process will take into consideration which types of areas or which parts of each ecosystem should achieve good ecological status, taking all necessary factors into consideration. Once the management objectives for ecological status have been established, the Government will organize the use of policy instruments that will either maintain ecological status in accordance with the agreed objective, or improve it in areas where ecological status is poorer than stipulated by the management objectives.

Managing nature more effectively

Norway will use this system as a tool to make nature management more effective and to set priorities for restoration projects in accordance with Aichi Target 15. This target focuses on ecosystem resilience and calls for “restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems” to contribute to “climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification”.

The aim is to have a management system based on clearly defined objectives for ecological status in place by 2020. The first steps have been taken and are reflected in the recommendations of the June 2017 report of the expert committee, which looked at “scientific indicators” for sea, forest, mountain, wetland, cultural landscape and open lowland ecosystems.

“The government is taking the long-term perspective into account in the management of nature,” says Climate and Environment Minister Vidar Helgesen. “We will ensure future generations’ ability to create values ​​based on well-functioning ecosystems. The work of the expert committee is important for the government to be able to adopt accurate and sustainable goals.”

The expert committee’s chair, Signe Nybø of the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, spoke to a Norwegian newspaper about the importance of assessing the country’s ecosystems. Nybø said indicators “reveal changes in nature that we do not discover with the naked eye and that happen without notice…

“With better knowledge about the state of ecosystems, we can intervene and stop, or at least reduce, negative development before it becomes impossible to turn around.”

(unenvironment)

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Diplomatic relations

President Trump will welcome Prime Minister Solberg to the White House

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

USA President Donald J. Trump will welcome Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway to the White House on January 10, 2018.

President Trump looks forward to exchanging views on the bilateral ties between the United States and Norway, and how jointly to advance regional and global security, and economic prosperity.

The President and Prime Minister will discuss shared defense and security goals within NATO and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, as well as trade and investment between the United States and Norway.

(Embassy of the United States of America, Pressemelding, Nadarajah Sethurupan )

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Spy War

Norway Addresses Unwanted Foreign Operator Activity

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Foreign online gaming operators facing Norway remains problematic in Norway.  As evinced by the shutdown of two online payment processors.

Transactions Blocked

National regulator Lotteritilsynet has ordered all Norwegian banks to cease payments to and from two payment processors after finding evidence that they changed their account numbers to mask continued transaction acceptance amongst Norwegian players and unlicensed operators.

Marketing Limits

Lotteritilsynet is further cracking down on a regulation loophole allowing foreign gambling operators to advertise on Norwegian television unchecked.

Unwanted EU-based Advertisement

Minister of Culture Linda Hofstad Helleland says that a host of EU broadcasters including channels TV3, Viasat4, Max and Eurosport Norway are circumventing a Norwegian advertising ban against foreign gambling companies.

Remedy

Helleland called for corrective legislation in the Norwegian Parliamentary before Easter next year in the hopes of remedying the loophole by next summer.

Formal Support

Gambling addiction activist group Actis–Rusfelt welcomed the proposed legislation as an effective remedy for the 120,000 problem gamblers in Norway and vulnerable underage net surfers.

Actis-Rusfelt Position Statement

Actis–Rusfelt acting secretary general Pernille Huseby praised the proposed measures by calling it “gratifying that the government now wants to ensure that foreign gambling companies cannot continue to bypass Norwegian law and send illegal advertising on Norwegian television screens.”

Advertising Rates of Concern

Further figures that alarm Huseby’s organisation include the 62 commercials per hour of Norwegian language gaming advertising that the EU-based channels are running, and the estimated total investment of $866m (€644m) per year by foreign gambling companies in advertisement marketing to Norwegian consumers representing a 17% year-on-year jump in advertising investment.

In Comparison…

Local gaming advertising expenditures of a relatively modest NOK 178m by Norwegian gaming monopolies Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstot.

Effective Model in Place

The benefits of local regulation extend beyond just attempting to increase market share revenues, but ultimately seek to more effectively distribute gambling revenues for social benefits. Local (and locally regulated) income from Norsk Tipping of NOK 165m in the previous year was effectively distributed to 44 different “socially beneficial and humanitarian organizations,” with the value of these funds increasing an estimated improving 42% year-on-year due to “a larger profit” at the state-owned monopoly.

Getting Things In Order

The Norwegian government’s targeting of payment processors exerts further direct influence over funds used for gambling by Norwegian players, and thus does the government seek to check advertising and foreign operator financial activity.

Outlook

With the social benefits of regulated monies clear, this looks like a case where government-owned monopolies helps the people in a country where online gambling revenues within the jurisdiction are being used for what one might call ideal purposes under a leading regulation model.

(N.Sethurupan, onlinecasinoreports)

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Defence

Norway buys K9 Thunder artillery from Hanwha

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway has signed a contract with South Korea-based Hanwha for K9 Thunder artillery units. Photo courtesy MKFI

Norway is buying 24 self-propelled guns, combined with designated ammunition resupply vehicles, from Hanwha Land Systems of South Korea.

The $215 million contract for the 155mm K9 Thunder systems was signed earlier this week and includes an option for another two dozen systems, the Norwegian Defense Material Agency, or Forsvarsmateriell, reported.

“It has been essential for us to find the right artillery system with the highest degree of performance capabilities consistent with minimizing the lowest possible risk,” said the head of Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency’s Land Systems Division, Brig. Gen. Morten Eggen. “Hanwha Land Systems was the competitor with the greatest degree of compliance with the Norwegian Army’s requirements.

“The artillery system will become an important contribution to the Armed Forces’ operational ability.”

Hanwha and Norway signed a contract for logistic support during the useful life of the material, with a contract to create a Center of Excellence at Norway’s Bjerkvik Technical Workshop.

A pre-series of the artillery system will be delivered for initial trials in 2019, with main deliveries beginning in 2020.

(UPI, N.Sethurupan)

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Norwegian Aid

Norway to provide NOK 115 million to UN Peacebuilding Fund

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway is providing NOK 115 million in funding to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. ‘Conflict prevention is good development policy and smart aid. That is why we are now increasing our contribution to the UN Peacebuilding Fund,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide.

The UN Peacebuilding Fund works to prevent armed conflict and to prevent countries that have been affected by conflict from falling back into a new cycle of violence. The Fund’s main focus is on Africa.

‘It is impossible to quantify the suffering that has been avoided as a result of conflict prevention efforts, but we can estimate the economic savings. Researchers have estimated that for every dollar invested in preventing conflicts, 16 dollars that would have been used to deal with the consequences of an armed conflict are saved,’ said Ms Eriksen Søreide.

Despite the excellent results it has achieved, the UN Peacebuilding Fund is severely underfunded. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a substantial strengthening of the Fund, as part of the work to increase the UN’s capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts. With today’s contribution, Norway has fulfilled the pledge it made in 2016 to provide NOK 115 million to the UN Peacebuilding Fund over a three-year period (2017–2019). Norway will consider providing further support in 2018.

The UN Peacebuilding Fund was established to strengthen the UN system’s capacity for strategic, long-term peacebuilding. Norway has contributed to the Fund since its launch in 2006.

(Nadarajah Sethurupan)

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Asia and Norway

Child Welfare Service Is More Profitable Than Oil

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norwegian daily Dagbladet writes a lot of national and international financial instituions recently invest on private child welfare services in Norway. As there is no limitations on who can invest, child welfare turns to be the most lucrative investment.

President of anti-privatization think-tank The Campaign for the Welfare State (For velferdsstaten), Linn Herning says the trend is worrying.

– With such high profitability, we are afraid of commercial child welfare attract investors who are primarily looking for return on capital,” says Herning to Dagbladet.
It appears that around three quarters of commercial child welfare services are now delivered by five large groups, three Swedish and two Norwegian who have made child welfare and other welfare services a particularly lucrative industry.

The groups are largely owned by various acquisition funds, registered in Luxembourg, London and Guernsey.

The return on capital these groups have invested in the Norwegian child welfare companies are sky high. On average, total return for all five has been between 22-23 per cent for the last five years. According to Statistics Norway’s overviews, there is no single industry that has been more profitable than commercial child welfare.

According to figures provided by Statistics Norway, 36,800 children received measures from the Norwegian Child Welfare Services at the end of 2015. This means that 2.9% of all children in Norway received some sort of measure. Of these, 12% were aged 0–2 years, 23% 3–5 years, 30% 6–12 years, and 35% 13–17 years. In addition, 6,800 young people aged 18–22 years (1.1% of their age class) received follow-up care.

60% of the 36,800 children received support measures within their families. 16% received support measures while placed outside their homes with the consent of their parents. In the remainder 24% of the cases, children were placed outside their homes after care orders.[2] Of the 14,850 children living outside their homes by the end of 2015, 72% lived in foster families, 14% were old enough to live by themselves with follow-up from the Child Welfare Services, and 8% were taken care of in institutions, while 5% where temporarily placed in private homes awaiting other solutions.

The main reasons for measures (both support measures and care measures) were lacking parenting skills (29%), parents’ mental problems (17%), high domestic conflict level (11%) and parents’ drug misuse (8%).

Statistics Norway has also published some figures according to immigration status: while 2.2% of all children with Norwegian parents received measures, the corresponding figures were 3.2% for children born in Norway by immigrant parents, and 4.9% for immigrant children. The latter group includes minor asylum seekers arriving without parents.

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Norwegian Aid

Agreement on EEA and Norway Grants to Poland

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway signed extensive new MoUs with Poland on the use of funding under the EEA and Norway Grants amounting to EUR 809.3 million. The business and innovation sector will be significantly strengthened. Justice and home affairs, energy and climate, and civil society will also continue to be important priority areas.

‘I am pleased that we have reached agreement on the framework for the new funding period for the EEA and Norway Grants to Poland. We look forward to continuing the important work that has been carried out under the previous period, and to strengthening efforts in the areas of business development, research and local development,’ said Minister of EEA and EU Affairs Marit Berger Røsland.

The MoUs cover the funding period 2014-2021, and with total funding amounting to EUR 809.3 million, Poland is still the largest beneficiary country in the grants scheme.

‘The negotiations on the new funding period have at times been challenging. I am particularly pleased that we have secured agreement to continue our strong and independent support for civil society,’ said Ms Berger Røsland.

Under the agreement that has now been reached, the funding for civil society (the Active Citizens’ Fund) will be divided into a national and a regional fund of EUR 30 million and EUR 23 million respectively. Both these funds are to be managed by independent operators who have no links to the authorities, and are to be selected on the basis of open competition.

Opportunities for Norwegian actors

Poland is an important trading partner, and Poles make up the largest group of foreign nationals in Norway.

The EEA and Norway Grants help to strengthen bilateral cooperation in many different sectors, and 13 Norwegian agencies will take part in the development and implementation of the programmes. It is important to further develop and create new networks that can contribute to positive developments, particularly at a time where some developments in Poland are giving cause for concern.

‘Many Norwegian actors can benefit from the opportunities for cooperation that the EEA and Norway Grants provide. In the previous funding period, several Norwegian companies established useful ties with Poland through their project cooperation under the scheme. We hope that even more Norwegian actors will make use of these opportunities in the new funding period,’ said Ms Berger Røsland.

Priority areas

Support for business development and innovation will be significantly strengthened, with a focus on green innovation and blue growth. Innovation Norway will play a key role, not least in the work to engage more Norwegian companies in cooperation projects. Innovation Norway will also run the programme for social dialogue and decent work. One of the projects under the programme will involve cooperation between the Norwegian and Polish labour inspection authorities on combating work-related crime.

Efforts in the justice sector will be continued, with particular emphasis on cooperation in the areas of correctional services and courts administration. Several Norwegian institutions are involved, including the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the Norwegian Courts Administration, and the Norwegian Correctional Service.

High priority will continue to be given to efforts in the area of environment, energy and climate. For example, funding has been allocated to research on carbon capture and storage.

Cultural heritage and cultural exchange will continue to be important in this funding period, and both the Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Arts Council Norway are taking part as partners in various programmes. The cooperation between Norwegian partners and POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is among the projects that are to be continued.

Facts about the EEA and Norway Grants

  • Under the EEA Agreement, Norway is part of the European internal market.
  • The EEA Agreement sets out the common goal of working together to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe and to strengthen cooperation between European countries.
  • Norway contributes to this through the EEA and Norway Grants.
  • EUR 2.8 billion is available under the grant scheme for the period 2014-2021, to be distributed among 15 beneficiary countries.
  • Norway provides some 98 % of this funding; the remainder is provided by Iceland and Liechtenstein.

 

(MFA Press release, N.Sethurupan)

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Crimes

Norway just voted to decriminalise drugs across the country

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway has voted to decriminalise drugs across the country in a landmark move that will see addicts treated instead of punished. Four out of nine parties in the country’s parliament voted in favour of the move as Norway becomes the first Scandinavian country to decriminalise.

It means users will be given treatment instead of a prison sentence and lawmakers hope it will free up police resources. Norway’s Health Committee was inspired by a recent trip to Portugal, a country which has implemented its own decriminalisation programme. While drug use and possession will still be illegal, decriminalisation would mark a shift in the authorities’ attitudes to users.

Nicolas Wilkinson, health chairman of the country’s Socialist Left Party, told VG: ‘This is the start of a big reform. Now a big effort is being done to switch the system from punishment to help.’ Sveinung Stensland, deputy chairman of the Storting Health Committee, added: ‘The change will take some time, but that means a changed vision: Those who have a substance abuse problem should be treated as ill, and not as criminals with classical sanctions such as fines and imprisonment.’

Portugal decriminalised drugs in 2001, and addicts there are given therapy or community service instead of being sent to prison. Like the model soon to be adopted in Norway, drugs still remain illegal in Portugal which means growing them, dealing and trafficking them carry criminal penalties. But if you are caught in possession of a small amount, the drugs are confiscated and the suspect is interviewed by social worker, a psychiatrist and lawyer. You could then be hit with sanctions which include a fine, travel bans and confiscation of professional licences. Addicts could also be sent to rehab or given community service.

(metro)

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Africa and Norway

Restrictive measures against Venezuela

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway has today introduced restrictive measures against Venezuela. These measures are a response to the negative developments in the country.

In November, Norway aligned itself with the EU’s restrictive measures against Venezuela, and has drawn up new regulations that are mainly based on Council Regulation (EU) 2017/2063 of 13 November this year.

‘These restrictive measures send a clear message to the Venezuelan authorities to reverse the worrying developments in the country. The Venezuelan Government must take immediate steps to find a political solution to the ongoing crisis, and must ensure respect for fundamental human rights. At the same time, we urge the opposition to continue their efforts to take part in a negotiated solution,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide.

The new regulations prohibit the export of equipment, goods or technology that can be used for internal repression or surveillance. The restrictive measures set out in the regulations come in addition to the arms embargo that Norway aligned itself with on 25 November this year, under which exports of weapons and military equipment to Venezuela are forbidden.

The restrictive measures also allow the introduction of travel restrictions and the freezing of funds and assets of individuals and companies. So far, no company or individual is subject to such restrictions. Any breach of the regulations may result in a fine or a prison sentence. The measures will enter into force once the regulations are officially published.

(Press release)

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Religion

Hindus urge Norway Govt. to mandate listing of gelatin source on food, which many times is beef

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Hindus are urging Government of Norway and Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) to mandate food manufacturers to mention the source of gelatin, if used in the product, on its “Ingredients” label.

When the source of gelatin is not listed and if it is beef, it is a serious non-disclosure affecting the Hindu devotees and would severely hurt their feelings when they would come to know that they were inadvertently consuming beef-laced popular food products, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed stresses.

Consumption of beef was highly conflicting to Hindu beliefs. Cow, the seat of many deities, was sacred and had long been venerated in Hinduism; Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out in a statement in Nevada (USA) today.

According to Nina Lødrup, Senior Adviser of Mattilsynet: “it is not necessary in Norway to declare the source of gelatin in products”.

It would be shocking for the Norwegian Hindu community to learn that some of the popular food products, which they might had been unknowingly eating for years, might contain beef as part of the gelatin while beef was not explicitly mentioned under the ingredients listed on the boxes/packages to caution them, Rajan Zed indicated.

Zed further said that it was hard to comprehend that why corporations, both Norwegian and international, many times were not transparent enough to mention beef explicitly under the ingredients on the box/package when, being constituent of gelatin, it was part of the product inside; so that an ordinary consumer could make right and appropriate choices.

Rajan Zed urged His Majesty King Harald V, Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Minister of Agriculture and Food Jon Georg Dale and Mattilsynet Director General Harald Gjein to seriously and urgently look into this issue affecting Hindu-Norwegians, who had made lot of contributions to the nation and society.

Dutch-British transnational consumer goods company Unilever, which “has been in business since the 1880s” and which claims to have “developed a clear and global approach to nutrition labeling”, in a response to Zed, noted: Gelatin “is used in some of our products to provide a lower fat, lower calorie product with a pleasing texture and consistency…We cannot guarantee if the gelatin is derived from beef or pork”.

Many products of Wrigley, said to be the largest manufacturer and marketer of chewing gum in the world, contain gelatin that is sourced from beef. Gelatin derived from beef is found in the many products of multinational Kellogg’s, which claims to be “world’s leading cereal company”.

Gelatin/gelatine is procured from various animal body parts and is usually used as a gelling agent in food. It can be from cows, pigs, fish, chicken, etc.; but there are animal-free and plant-based alternatives to gelatin like seaweed extracts. Gelatin is an ingredient in some cereals, ice creams, candies, yogurts, desserts, marshmallows, aspic, trifles, dips, fruit snacks, sour cream, margarine, frosting, confections, gums, Chinese soup dumplings, puddings, nondairy creamers, cakes, cream cheese, lozenges, etc. It is also used for clarification of vinegar, juices and wine.

Mattilsynet, whose mission includes “fair trade”, is a governmental body, whose aim is, through regulations and controls, “to ensure that food and drinking water are as safe and healthy as possible for consumers…”.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

(Nadarajah Sethurupan)

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Africa and Norway

Civilians and Humanitarian Access Concerning the Conflict in South Sudan

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

This statement was issued jointly by the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

On Thursday, December 21, the parties to the conflict in South Sudan signed the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access in Addis Ababa. The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) congratulate the parties on their willingness to compromise for the benefit of the people of South Sudan and hope that they immediately take action to make good on that agreement.

The Troika fully supports the continuing effort by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to build peace through the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF).  We would like to recognize in particular the meaningful contributions of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, and the members of the IGAD Council of Ministers.  We further recognize the tireless work undertaken by IGAD Special Envoy Ismail Wais and the High Level Facilitators to bring the parties together and the inclusion of a number of civil society organizations and women representatives at the Forum.

The Troika calls on all the parties to implement the Agreement immediately including the parties’ obligations regarding humanitarian access. We are encouraged by the strong statements from the African Union and IGAD making clear their intent to hold the parties accountable. The Troika calls on the parties to reconvene urgently to address the important security and governance arrangements that are essential for peace.

( Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Norway )

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Defence

“I Hope I’m Wrong, But There’s A War Coming”

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

US Marine Corps General Warns “I Hope I’m Wrong, But There’s A War Coming”

Pointing towards the near future possibility of Russia and the Pacific theater being the next major areas of conflict, a US Marine Corps commandant warned troops station in Norway to be prepared for a coming war.

As Military.com reports, the stated goals of the Marine Corps’ newest rotational force in Norway are to enhance partnerships with European allies and improve the service’s ability to fight in cold weather.

But on a brief visit to the 300-member unit ahead of Christmas, the commandant and the sergeant major of the Marine Corps both described the strategic role the small unit fills — and the fact that a peacetime mission can be preface to combat if circumstances change.

“I hope I’m wrong, but there’s a war coming,” Gen. Robert Neller told them.

“You’re in a fight here, an informational fight, a political fight, by your presence.”
Fox News writes that Neller pointed to the near future possibility of Russia and the Pacific theater being the next major areas of conflict.

Sgt. Maj. Ronald Green sounded a similar tone.

“Just remember why you’re here,” Green said.

“They’re watching. Just like you watch them, they watch you. We’ve got 300 Marines up here; we could go from 300 to 3,000 overnight. We could raise the bar.”
The warnings came a day before Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told troops at Fort Bragg, N.C., that “storm clouds are gathering” over the Korean Peninsula.

At a Q&A session with the troops in the Norwegian Home Guard base near Trondheim, Neller said that the U.S. could shift its focus from the Middle East to Eastern Europe, citing Russia’s conflicts with Ukraine and Georgia as justification.

He told the Marines that they should be prepared for a “big-ass fight” on the horizon.

(N.Sethurupan)

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Royal House

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Announce Royal Tour of Norway and Sweden

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Prince William and Kate Middleton will go on a royal tour of Sweden and Norway from January 30 to February 2, Kensington Palace announced this morning.

The couple will spend time in Stockholm from January 30-31 and Oslo from February 1-2, according to Town & Country. The tour is likely part of their duties as “unofficial Brexit ambassadors,” strengthening Britain’s relations with fellow European countries as it prepares to leave the EU. Their first visit under this new role was to Paris in March this year.

The trip will supposedly take place during third trimester of Middleton’s pregnancy, Entertainment Tonight points out, as the Duchess’ third child is expected to arrive in April 2018.

This will also mark the couple’s first joint trip abroad since Middleton’s third pregnancy was announced in September. Prince William, however, recently flew out solo for a royal tour of Finland at the end of November. Though he was away from his family, the Duke of Cambridge openly spoke about his family, congratulating his brother, Prince Harry, on his engagement and sharing adorable stories about his son, Prince George.

The Duke and Duchess’s last joint tour was in Germany and Poland this July. They were accompanied by their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who became the center of attention with their irresistibly cute public appearances. (Remember Charlotte smelling her little bouquet, and George’s reaction to the helicopters?)

So far, it is unknown whether the royal kids will join their parents on tour, but we sure hope they tag along.

(N.Sethu)

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Norwegian Aid

Norway’s grant of additional $6.9 million helping UNICEF

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Government of Norway’s additional $6.9 million contribution to UNICEF earlier this year in May 2017 is helping in strengthening the education system and increasing access and quality of learning services provided to all children including Syrian refugee children.

The contribution from Norway is focused on improving access to formal education, especially for Syrian children both in refugee camps and host communities. The grant is particularly supporting efforts to increase available education opportunities and alternatives, and to ensure the retention of children in the education system.

“UNICEF continues to work with the Jordanian government to improve the capacity of the formal schools and ensuring that every child receive the education they deserve in a safe and enriching learning environment, and reach their full potential,” said the UNICEF Jordan representative Robert Jenkins. “We are very grateful to the Government of Norway for their generous support which is helping UNICEF provide learning support to all vulnerable children including Syrian children,” he added.

The Government of Norway has contributed a total of $16.8 million to UNICEF since 2015, primarily for education programmes targeting all vulnerable children in Jordan.

(Nadarajah Sethurupan)

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Asia and Norway

China to establish a national carbon trading market

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

China has announced the creation of what is expected to be the world’s largest carbon trading market. The market initially covers the power sector, but will gradually expand to include industry and other sectors.

– It is very welcome that China has announced the establishment of a national carbon trading market. The system is expected to be the world’s largest. It will initially deal with the power sector. The fact that the country with the largest emissions will launch a national carbon pricing system, is an important step forward. This could signal the world’s most important single climate action until now, says Minister of Climate and Environment, Vidar Helgesen.

Power production in China – for a large part based on coal power plants – is estimated to account for approximately 30 to 40 percent of China’s total CO2 emissions. The establishment of a Chinese carbon trading market could mean an important step towards fulfilling the Paris agreement.

– Norway, through the Norwegian Environment Agency, has in recent years had a unique cooperation with Chinese partners to develop the national carbon trading system. Via this effort, Norway has helped to lay the groundwork for potentially large emission reductions in China, says Vidar Helgesen.

According to Chinese authorities, it will take another two to three years before the market is up and running. The Chinese government will first make available an overview of all producers in the power market and create a register for the carbon trading market.

According to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), which is responsible for climate policy in China, additional sectors will be included in the carbon market system from 2020.

 

FACTS:

A carbon market system for CO2 emissions implies that the government determines a price of CO2 emissions.

The most common form of a carbon market system is that the government puts a ceiling on the total number of emission credits in a quota market. For example, the carbon market system may apply to a particular sector in society, as for example power production in the Chinese case.

Each company is allocated a certain number of credits they can release annually. If a company does not release its allocated CO2 quota, these can be sold on the market.

Companies that have released a larger share of CO2 than they were allocated can then buy credits from the same market

In order to ensure that the sector’s total CO2 emissions go down, the government will tighten the total number of market credits regularly. This means that fewer credits – or emission permits – will become available.

(regjeringen)

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Farming

NEAFC continues to place great emphasis on action against Illegal

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The 36TH Annual Meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) was held in London from 13 to 17 November 2017.

NEAFC is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for fisheries management in international waters in the North-East Atlantic. Its Contracting Parties are Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation.

At the Annual Meeting, conservation and management measures for the year 2018 were adopted for a number of fish stocks. These include blue whiting, herring, mackerel, redfish in the Irminger Sea and Rockall haddock.

NEAFC is progressing further in its work regarding improvements to the conservation and management of deep-sea species. At this Annual Meeting, NEAFC renewed its Recommendation on deep-sea fisheries within the NEAFC Regulatory Area, but in addition agreed a Recommendation to ensure fisheries for deep-sea stocks/species not subject to other conservation and management measures only to expand gradually to allow for information to develop to assess sustainability. Current measures include prohibiting fisheries directed at deep-sea sharks, rays, chimaeras and spurdog, in addition to catch limits being set for several species of grenadiers in two separate areas. Bans on fisheries targeting basking shark and porbeagle remain in effect.

The protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), such as corals, continues to be an important issue for NEAFC. NEAFC has already closed bottom fisheries in all areas where VMEs are known to occur or are considered likely to occur according to scientific advice. During the meeting NEAFC received the latest scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea regarding the occurrence of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the Regulatory Area. In response to the advice, NEAFC has not only extended the current VME closures from the end of 2017 to the end of 2022, but also expanded the coverage of its areas closed to fishing in the Rockall-Hatton Bank. Furthermore it extended the period of the closed areas from the end of 2017 to the end of 2022.

NEAFC continues to place great emphasis on action against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fisheries. A major step to enhance monitoring, control and enforcement was taken when the basis for an Electronic Reporting System (ERS) for NEAFC was formally adopted in 2016. This year’s adoption of the United Nation’s international standard for exchange of fisheries information was a further step forward in this process. Development of technical solutions for the ERS will continue in 2018 on the basis of arrangements at the meeting.

Following the 2014 performance review of NEAFC, working groups related to the Allocation Criteria and the Framework for Coastal State Negotiations were established. Acting on their outputs presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting, NEAFC adopted Guidelines for Coastal States Negotiations in the North East Atlantic and a Model Framework Arrangement.

NEAFC’s cooperation with other international organisations was highlighted at the Annual Meeting. This includes the collective arrangement with the OSPAR Commission for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. The Annual Meeting welcomed the continuing cooperation and coordination between the two organisations, as well as the intention to include other organisations that have international legal competence regarding other activities.

NEAFC’s good cooperation with several other organisations, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) was also welcomed. Continued representation of NEAFC’s approaches and achievements at international meetings taking forward global developments on fisheries and oceans governance was encouraged.

The cooperating non-Contracting Party status of the Bahamas, Canada, Liberia, New Zealand and St Kitts and Nevis was renewed for the year 2018. These States cooperate with NEAFC and, in some cases, deploy vessels for transhipment operations in the NEAFC Regulatory Area.

(N.Sethurupan)

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NATO and Norway

Stoltenberg: from NATO opponent to alliance chief

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is to remain at the helm of the NATO alliance for a further two years, extending his term until late 2020.

The Scandinavian has led the organisation since he took over as Secretary-General in October of 2014 for an initial four-year term.

A brief statement issued on Tuesday confirmed the decision had been reached by the allies to extend his term, emphasising the “full confidence” held in Stoltenberg and the importance of his role in leading NATO’s adaption to the new security challenges of the 21st century.

British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was quick to praise Stoltenberg’s extension, taking the opportunity to again highlight Britain’s status as one of the few members meeting the 2% of GDP commitment to defence. Britain’s leading role in NATO will be strengthened in the new year as Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach assumes the position as Chairman of the Military Committee, the most senior military position in the organisation which rotates amongst the member states.

Confirming German support for the move, defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen said Mr Stoltenberg had “done excellent work modernising NATO and adapting its structures to a changed security solution”.

Not all feedback to the reappointment has been positive. Russia Today described his tenure as “gaffe riddled” highlighting recent controversies including a botched exercise in Norway which accidentally marked NATO member, and its President Recep Erdogan, as enemies.

Stoltenberg leads NATO in difficult times; renewed Russian aggression has put the alliance alert, while its entire existence remains jeopardised by increasing moves for European defence cooperation through the EU including the recently signed PESCO defence pact.

(Nadarajah Sethurupan)

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Asia and Norway

Norway’s Foreign Minister Eriksen Søreide’s Myanmar visit

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

On 19 November the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Yangon was proud to receive Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide in Yangon. This was the minister’s very first visit to Myanmar, and one of her first visits abroad as Foreign Minister. In Yangon, she met with local, international and UN organizations, learning about the situation in the country. She also met with representatives from Norwegian businesses and NGOs in Myanmar.

“I am glad to be in Myanmar, and have been very well received by people here. This is an important moment for me to visit Myanmar and to engage with civil society and the government. I look forward to further strengthening the relationship between our two peoples, including working together to resolve difficult challenges in Rakhine and elsewhere,” Eriksen Søreide said.

On 21-22 November Minister Eriksen Søreide was in Nay Pyi Taw to attend the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. There she met with colleagues from Asian and European countries, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

They had a good and open discussion on the situation in Rakhine, including on the importance of providing humanitarian access, security and safe return. Eriksen Søreide reiterated Norway’s readiness to assist the Government of Myanmar in this difficult and complex situation. They agreed to work together to achieve peace, stability, harmony and sustainable development in Rakhine, stated the Norwegian embassy.

( Source: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Yangon, N.Sethurupan)

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Spy War

Norwegian “Espionage” ends up in Russian Court

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Lefortovo District Court in Moscow, Russia has given the order for a Norwegian to be arrested according to court spokesperson Yekaterina Krasnova from Russia.

“The court satisfied the prosecutors’ motion imposing to remand the defendant Norwegian in custody until February 5, 2018,” she said.

According to the Russian spokesperson, The court received an appeal against this decision for him to be charged under Section 276 of Russia’s Criminal Code (“Espionage”).

FSB officers detained Norwegian in Moscow during a special operation where classified documents illegitimately changed hands, Media reported.

According to the news agency, Berg was arrested by the FSB security service when he was receiving secret documents about the Russian fleet.

“When it comes to questions about grounds for arrest and imprisonment, this has to be answered by the Russian authorities,” writes Frod e Overland Andersen, Communications Director of the UD in an email to VG.

Russia is holding a Norwegian man on suspicion of spying after he allegedly received classified documents from a Russian man who is also under arrest, an official said on December 19.

Russian media reports cited unnamed sources as saying that Berg was caught receiving classified material about the Russian Navy that he allegedly planned to hand over to Norwegian agencies.

USA, UK, France, Pakistan, India, Israel, China and Russia – ‘Serious warning’ to Norway ?

Some reports suggested his arrest could be linked to what they said was his opposition to the construction of a fence along a small part of Norway’s short border with Russia near a border crossing and Women in Norway who were beaten by their husbands should not count on help from Norwegian authorities, but they even risk that if Norwegian child care authorities will hear about it, they will take their children permanently away and put the child in to the foster home.

Norway is stealing children from other nations for no sensible reason at all, all the time for many years even right now, and hardly anyone is protesting against them!

Norway should not be allowed to any conference concerning women s or children s rights when they are the ones who are deliberately braking rights of children and their parents in the most horrible way.

Russians were also in time of Soviet dictatorship prohibited to attend psychiatric conferences when they misused psychiatry and now Norwegians are in the same way misusing childcare, while Russian children are much, much safer than children in Norway now.

Mothers are threaten by Norwegian barnevernet not to contact mass media, or their children will be adopted away.

Mothers in Norway can get no help from police.

The case with Breivik shooting, when journalists arrived long time before police did, shows that and also the book written by Jan Eriksen ..

His real Photos name are on VG.

https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/nordmann-anklaget-for-spionasje-i-russland/a/24214035/

The Lefortovo District Court in Moscow is going to sentence Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, earlier arrested in Russia on trumped-up espionage charges, to 20 years’ imprisonment, according to his lawyer Mark Feygin.

Lefortovo District is a district of South-Eastern Administrative Okrug of the federal city of Moscow, Russia.

It is named after a close associate of Tsar Peter the Great, Franz Lefort, whose troops were stationed nearby at the German Quarter.

Lefortovo is considered to have been founded in 1699. In the 18th century, it was home to Annenhof, Lefortovo Palace, Sloboda Palace, and Catherine Palace. In later centuries, the district hosted troops and military organizations, and also became heavily industrialized.

The present-day Lefortovo is famous for the Lefortovo Prison, Lefortovo park and the Lefortovo Tunnel on the Third Ring. Several higher educational institutions are located in Lefortovo, such as the Moscow Power Engineering Institute.

(Nadarajah Sethurupan)

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Farming

Norway Royal Salmon and Aker’s proposal to grow more salmon in the Arctic receives green light

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway Royal Salmon and Aker obtained approval to increase their production volume of aquaculture operations in the Arctic after filing a complaint against the original allocation decision.

According to both firms, their new ocean aquaculture concept, called Arctic Offshore Farming, facilitates sustainable growth in areas that the aquaculture technology thus far has not been able to exploit.

This initiative makes it possible to achieve unique collaboration between traditional aquaculture habilities (Norway Royal Salmon), the expertise in offshore facility construction (Aker Solutions) and the environmentally certified fishery operations in extreme water (Aker Marine).

Now Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries will process applications limited to 5,990 tonnes in maximum allowed biomass compared to 2,995 tonnes in a decision from July 7 2017, Reuters informed.

The new decision gives the companies sufficient volume to test two units instead of one.

Initially, Norway Royal Salmon and Aker had applied for permission to farm 11,700 tonnes of fish, and the two can still appeal the regulator’s decision to Norway’s fisheries minister.

The project involves the development and testing of a brand new type of aquaculture farm with greater capacity to withstand harsh weather conditions. NRS/Aker applied for 15 development permits in order to realise the concept and test the facility in Troms/Finnmark.

These licenses would provide the economic foundation for carrying out significant investments in a future-oriented industry.

If a development project is successful, measured against a set of criteria, it could be converted to a permanent productions licence at a cost of NOK 10 million (USD 1.2 million) per licence.

(Fis,N.Sethu)

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Srilanka and Norway

Consultations held between Sri Lanka and Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Sri Lanka and Norway have held Foreign Office Consultations in Oslo on 11 December 2017.

Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam met with the Secretary General of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, Mr. Wegger Strømmen.

They reviewed bilateral relations and ongoing projects in Sri Lanka assisted by Norway.

The two Secretaries also discussed ways and means of broadening and deepening the relations between the two countries.

“It has been good discussions on bilateral and global issues, with focus on international cooperation to secure sustainable use of oceans,” the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said.

The Foreign Secretary also visited the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade, Industries and Fisheries.

(N.Sethu)

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Defence

Norway’s defense minister: The path to the next NATO summit

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Next summer NATO will hold another summit, gathering heads of state and government from all 29 member countries. Summits focus our efforts and provide guidance and direction for the alliance, and this summit takes place at a crucial time.

NATO faces a deteriorating security environment that is both dynamic and complex. Threats present themselves across domains, concurrently and from different geographical directions. Global and regional instability has led to a common understanding among allies that the need for NATO is as great as ever. However, to ensure that the alliance is capable of dealing with these threats in an effective way, the alliance needs to adapt. This will be a main theme at the next summit.

Transformation is underway. At the summit in Wales in 2014, the member states agreed that NATO must improve its ability to provide collective defense and deterrence. This was necessary after a decade where the alliance had focused on out-of-area crisis response operations. Furthermore, Russia’s blatant disregard for international law in its illegal annexation of Crimea and military operations in eastern Ukraine reminded us that state-on-state conflict in Europe no longer is a remote possibility. NATO has embarked upon an ambitious and comprehensive reform agenda.

NATO’s contingency plans have been updated. We have established more capable readiness forces, and we are stepping up our efforts to fight the threat from violent extremists and terrorism. Furthermore, the alliance has established a troop presence in the Baltic states and Poland. This deters aggression and reassures our allies. Exercises and training is a way to demonstrate alliance resolve and to ensure interoperability among forces. NATO is now training and exercising more, in larger formations and with more realistic, high-end scenarios. The alliance is increasingly becoming a hub for allied exercises. My government will host the next large-scale Article 5 exercise in Norway next year. This sends a powerful signal.

As a result of these and other measures, the alliance today is more effective, relevant and strong.

However, our work is not done. We must continue to reform. I want to highlight three important areas that require our focus in the lead-up to the summit.

Firstly, the current command structure is not fit for purpose. It was conceived during a time when out-of-area crisis management operations were the prime operational focus. Now that collective defense and deterrence again are top priorities, we must make changes to the command structure. The NATO defense ministers decided in November to establish two new joint commands. One will have a particular responsibility for the maritime domain and the sea lines of communication across the Atlantic. The other will focus on logistics, movement and mobility. These issues may seem mundane. However, the command structure is a key instrument in generating and fielding the alliance’s collective fighting power. NATO’s legitimacy and credibility depends upon a robust and relevant command structure. This will be an important and very concrete deliverable for the next summit.

Secondly, NATO needs to pay more attention to the maritime domain. Maritime areas will be increasingly contested in the future, and NATO must be prepared to uphold the rule of law and safeguard our interests at sea. The alliance needs to improve its competence and ability to operate in high-intensity maritime environments. That includes the ability to operate our forces in areas where potential adversaries may try to deny entry or freedom of movement. NATO must strengthen our maritime profile. This will be a key point for discussion leading up to the next summit.

Thirdly, NATO must review and adapt our decision-making processes. The complex threats and challenges that we face have one thing in common: Threats and attacks will emerge and occur with little to no warning time. That means that decisions must be made swiftly. That is a challenge for a consensus-based organization such as NATO, with 29 member states. However, we must address this. We risk being at an asymmetric decision-making disadvantage vis-à-vis potential adversaries that are able to take quicker and more effective strategic decisions. This could significantly undermine our collective security.

At the summit, there will be a frank and honest discussion on burden-sharing. The U.S. administration has rightly pointed out that the United States shoulders a disproportionately large share of the financial burden for our common defense. This situation is not tenable. In order to ensure the long-term viability of NATO, all nations must stand by our commitments to make the necessary investments in our defenses.

The upcoming summit is an opportunity to step back and contemplate the true value of NATO. The alliance is a unique construct. No other organization has a standing joint command structure, available high-end military forces and a standing decision-making apparatus. NATO is a political as well as a military organization. And it is an alliance that is founded upon a common set of values. These are the values that bind us together as liberal, democratic nations. Now more than ever, NATO must hold true to and safeguard these values.

The U.S. has on numerous occasions made it clear that it stands by its commitments to its NATO allies. This is also demonstrated through action. U.S. investments in European security through the European Deterrence Initiative is a clear example.

In an increasingly uncertain world, the value of stable and strong alliance relationships increases. The transatlantic security relationship — as manifested through the NATO alliance — is an unmatched and powerful force for stability and security. At its core, this is NATO’s historical mission: ensuring peace, freedom, stability and prosperity for our people. NATO has been successful in this endeavor because we have been able to adapt. NATO needs to continue to adapt, as it has since its inception in 1949. This is the enduring task of the heads of state and government that will convene in Brussels next summer.

(defensenews . com, Frank Bakke-Jensen is Norway’s minister of defense. He is charged with creating and executing the country’s security and defense policy.)

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