Posted on 08/18/2008 7:56:31 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Several Norwegian opposition politicians say Russia’s intervention in the South Ossetia crisis shows that the country has Great Power aspirations, which could eventually pose a threat against Norwegian positions in the High North. Also in Sweden, the Caucasus conflict now triggers a domestic defence policy debate. Leader of the Norwegian Conservative Party, Ms. Erna Solberg, does not believe that a conflict like the one in Georgia could take place between Russian and Norway. She still believes that the South Ossetia events bear clear evidence of Russia’s great power aspirations.
-We can not defend ourselves alone, Norway needs a strong army, she says to newspaper Aftenposten.
Spitsbergen
Ms. Solberg illustrates her increasing fears with Russia’s reported violations of aircraft regulations at Spitsbergen and military training near the Norwegian border.
-It worries me that the Russians are showing disrespect for our right to govern the Spitsbergen archipelago, she says to the newspaper. She also accuses the Norwegian red-green government coalition of failing to nurse relations with the USA.
The Swedish debate
At the same time, a similar debate is unfolding in Sweden. An editorial in newspaper Dagens Nyheter today highlights the need for a revision of Swedish defence policies.
-For Sweden, the issue is now to adjust its defence policy to the hard realities, the editorial reads.
The newspaper writes that the South Ossetia crisis to certain extent resembles the Cold War.
-The perception that Sweden does not have external threats is an ill-informed stance, which although it lacks basis in reality has spread through the Swedish defence debate, the editors write.
The newspaper now calls on the Swedish government to stall cuts in the country’s defence in order to bolster national security.
-And the Russians do not hesitate to use force, diplomacy comes afterwards, Mr. Width adds.
Even former foreign minister Jan Petersen from the Conservative Party now say that the developments in the Caucasus shows that Russia is willing to use force to achieve political gains and that this use of force could be used “unexpectedly”. - LINK
Norway challenged by Russian plans in Spitsbergen waters - 08/05/2008 - Russia this week confirmed its intention to start looking for oil and gas in waters near the Spitsbergen archipelago. .... While Norway claims that the Paris Treaty of 1920 gives it the right to establish an economic zone around the archipelago, Russia and a number of other countries maintain that the Paris Treaty only regulates the situation on the archipelago and not at sea.
Ping.
I think the EU overall is a horrible idea, but I’ve always thought that a Nordic Confederation (not a union, not a Federal government... a voluntary, quit-if-you-want-to confederation) of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and possibly, Finland, made a lot of sense, because of similarities in culture. I would say similarities in language, but Finnish is way out there on the language tree, nowhere close to the other Nordic languages.
With Sweden’s industrial base, and experience building fighters and military equipment, they could take the lead and split production and costs among the other Nordic nations. Get Germany involved too, and you’ve got a regional superpower without the EU “multi-cultural” baggage. Russia would certainly have to respect an alliance like that.
I’ve always wondered why the UK and scandinavian countries, along with iceland and greenland...didn’t tell the EU to take a long walk off a short pier.
The UK+nords=power
Probably even get canada to join that economic bloc.
Norway is not part of the EU and neither is Iceland.
“Balto-Scandia” was an idea tentatively considered by the inter-war foreign ministries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the early 1920s. Nothing came of it, though, and each nation ended up signing a separate peace with the young Soviet Union. I hope those countries are re-reading their history, though.
Sweden, Norway, and Finland should join NATO if they fear the aggressiveness of Russia, or die cold for such isolationism.
It’s also a surprise rather close in terms of culture, with the Estonians.
The following things I hadn't been aware of, and I thank you for posting this article, Tailgunner Joe.
Ms. Solberg illustrates her increasing fears with Russia’s reported violations of aircraft regulations at Spitsbergen and military training near the Norwegian border.
-It worries me that the Russians are showing disrespect for our right to govern the Spitsbergen archipelago, she says to the newspaper. She also accuses the Norwegian red-green government coalition of failing to nurse relations with the USA.
Norway has been a member of NATO since the earliest days.
Looks like bears encrochment has some side effects.
I would worried too if I bordered Russia.
What’s your point?
Rally request for those of like sentiment afterwards
Otherwise it comes across as a school-born excercise. Sorry, it just does.
Rally request for those of like sentiment afterwards
Otherwise it comes across as a school-born excercise. Sorry, it just does.
” She also accuses the Norwegian red-green government coalition of failing to nurse relations with the USA.”
oh SURE!!
It’s times like these when it enters their minds that being friends with the US might be a good thing.
Any other time, we are to be sneered at.
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