Thread by @WholePicture_

Here a Thread about #Norwegian and #Peace #politics and the @NATO:
The Norwegians want their government to be more transparent about security policy

#Russia #China #geopolitics #USA

nzz.ch/international/…

The arrival of an American bomber squadron for a stay of several weeks in Norway caused considerable political unrest. Critics fear an undermining of the country's security doctrine, which prohibits the stationing of foreign soldiers in peacetime.

The left-leaning daily «Dagsavisen», for example, stated that it was about another example of Norway becoming more and more of a «prominent American military base».

In the autumn of last year, a political dispute arose over whether American nuclear-powered submarines were allowed to use the port infrastructure near Tromso, the largest city in northern Norway.

After all, the B1 bombers no longer carry nuclear warheads since they were converted to conventional armament. And with a stay of a few weeks it can also be discussed whether it is actually a question of a stationing or not more of a visit.

Representatives of the military and the government countered that the presence of NATO allies in Norway was "nothing new"

Öivind Gunnerud, a senior officer in the Norwegian Air Force, explained that Norway relies on alliance partners for its defense and that future security policy challenges can only be credibly countered on the basis of such cooperation.

Norway is becoming more and more important for NATO because Russia and China are becoming more and more active in the Arctic.

For example because of raw materials or because you can do more and more shipping there, because in the future the sea will remain ice-free even in winter, and thus offers an alternative ship route to the Suez Canal.

But a certain stir was caused by the fact that Tormod Heier, a senior army officer and lecturer at the Norwegian Defense Academy, feared that his country could become an arena for the escalating rivalry between the superpowers in the Arctic.

Unlike the mainstream defense policy in his country, Heier therefore calls for more public discussion on security issues. If important decisions were made bypassing the population, then in the end you would have a big problem with democracy.

I agree with his opinion 100%, you should always include the population.