The Climate conditions from a European perspective is the blue Arctic or High North with increased access and opportunities for social and economic development, The government has identifies 5 priorities , international cooperation, business development, knowledge development, Infrastructure and preparedness as key to future development. This slide represent some figures with regard to activity within these areas. https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/fad46f0404e14b2a9b551ca7359c1000/arctic-strategy.pdf

The Arctic the new hotspot Euro-Atlantic security architecture – NATO Arctic development crucial to Norwegian security Competition and cooperation between mayor players remains low US Russia China EU High attention to Russian military buildup Modernization of strategic weapons Limitations on freedom of movements Threat to transatlantic link Norway is NATO northern flank bordering Russia Pragmatic and practical cooperation Fisheries Search & Rescue Environmental protection Science and education People to people cooperation The Arctic the new hotspot Our security policy reflects the new security situation in Europe after the illegal occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2016 “Setting the course for Norwegian foreign and security policy underline the importance of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture and NATO role as deterrence against military aggression. The Arctic development is considered to be crucial to Norwegian security and currently the level of competition and cooperation between mayor players remains low in the Arctic. The policy are paying attention to the Russian military build with regard to modernization of strategic weapons, potential limitation on freedom of movements and threats to NATO transatlantic link. Norway is NATO northern flank and is exposed to an asymmetric military strength bordering Russia and its important military complex on the Kola Peninsula. Norway has a pragmatic view with regard to practical cooperation with Russia. There are many confident measures in place to mitigate conflicts. Even though the sanction on Russia is limiting military cooperation, there are still cooperation with regard to fisheries, Search & Rescue, Environmental protection, science and education and people to people cooperation. On the military side there is still an open skype line between the Norwegian Joint Command and the Russian Northern joint command. We do not see the Arctic as potential origin of a conflict but we can not rule out a conflict spreading into the Arctic. That is why we established a new normal b y increasing our readiness and presence in our Arctic waters.

Strengthen NATO ability for collective defense is vital to achieve strategic deterrence in the North Atlantic and Arctic region

Security policy challenges Short – long term Russia The century of the oceans In my opinion Norway security challenges are dominated by two different trends in the Arctic In the short term by the Russian modernization of its military forces, and in the longer term the contest of the global commons which will move into the Arctic region The century of the oceans is related to the population growth, limited resources and development of new technology that leads to a competition over the global commons. The development of the future great powers USA, China, Russia and possibly India is important to understand to recognize the maritime challenges in the future. The maritime system is becoming more heavily used, more stressed, and more contested than ever before Norway – a Leading Ocean Economy