Practical Dialogue with Russia Continues:
Despite heightened tensions, Norway maintains communication channels with Russia (search-and-rescue agreements, border meetings, incidents-at-sea protocols) to avoid misunderstandings while emphasizing the need for Europe to invest more in defense capabilities traditionally provided by the U.S.
Norway’s chief of defence visited the United States Northern Command in July 2026, meeting with USNORTHCOM’s Commander Gen. Gregory M. Guillot to discuss how the NATO allies can strengthen interoperability and strategic collaboration in the Arctic. […]
Managing relations with Moscow is a Norwegian specialty. As Russia has remilitarized the Arctic in recent years, that task has become a priority, Kristoffersen told Politico. “We still have mechanisms to speak with Russia. We have a search and rescue agreement in the Barents Sea. We meet regularly with the Russian border security. We have a protocol for what we call incidents at sea. We also have an open line between our joint headquarters and the commander of the Northern Fleet. Everything between Norway and Russia in the High North is about avoiding misunderstandings,” he said. Läs artikell