The head of Norway's military said that Oslo cannot rule out the possibility of a future Russian invasion of the country, stating that Moscow could move into Norway to protect its nuclear capabilities deployed in the far north.
"We do not rule out the possibility of Russia seizing territory as part of their plan to protect their own nuclear capabilities, which is the only thing they have left that really poses a threat to the United States," said General Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway's chief of defense, in an interview with the British Guardian.
He acknowledged that Russia has no aggressive intentions toward Norway in the same way it does toward Ukraine or other former Soviet territories, but pointed out that a large part of Russia's nuclear arsenal is located on the Kola Peninsula, not far from the Norwegian border, including nuclear submarines, land-based missiles and aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons. These capabilities would be crucial in the event of a conflict between Russia and NATO in another area.
"We never rule out that option, because it is still an option for Russia to act in this way to ensure the protection of its nuclear capabilities, or rather the ability to strike back. That is the scenario we are preparing for in the far north," he said.
Kristoffersen sharply criticized Donald Trump's recent statements about Greenland, as well as the US president's "unacceptable" claims that allied countries were not on the front lines in Afghanistan, while US troops bore the brunt of the fighting.
"What he said makes no sense and I know all my American friends in Afghanistan know that," said Kristoffersen, 56, a career officer who has served in multiple missions in Afghanistan.
"We were definitely on the front lines. We were doing a whole range of tasks – from arresting Taliban leaders to training Afghans and conducting surveillance. We lost ten Norwegians. I lost friends there too. So we all felt it was pointless," he said.
"At the same time, I thought - this is President Trump. I've never seen him in Afghanistan. He doesn't know what he's talking about when he makes such claims. A president shouldn't say such things, but it didn't affect me personally. My concern was directed at the Norwegian veterans and the families of the fallen soldiers," he added.
Kristofersen has been Norway's Chief of Defence since 2020, responsible for the armed forces as well as the intelligence service. That period has been marked by major changes, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a reassessment of European security, with neighbouring Sweden and Finland joining Norway in NATO, while Norway has further strengthened its border areas with Russia in the far north.
Referring to Trump's claim that China and Russia have military ambitions towards Greenland, Kristoffersen said it was "very strange" to hear such assessments.
"We have a very good insight into what's happening in the Arctic thanks to our intelligence and we don't see anything like that in Greenland... we see Russian submarine activity and their underwater program in the traditional part of the Arctic... but it's not related to Greenland, it's related to the Atlantic," he concluded.
Bonus video:
