The time to prepare for the confrontation with Russia has shortened, – the head of the Norwegian Armed Forces

He named the main task of the Norwegian Defense Forces for this year.

NATO has two to three years to prepare for Russian aggression before Moscow regains its ability to launch a new attack .

This opinion was expressed by the head of the Armed Forces of Norway, General Eirik Kristoffersen. “At one point someone said it would take 10 years, but I think we’re back to less than 10 years because of the industrial base that’s now operating in Russia,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg .

According to him, in the coming years, the North Atlantic Alliance will be able to replenish its reserves, while at the same time providing assistance to Ukraine in the war. The general noted that this year they did not notice any significant changes in the position of the Russian Federation on the border, and its ground forces on the Kola Peninsula were “destroyed” after heavy losses in Ukraine.

Norway’s parliament is set to approve a plan to nearly double defense spending over the next 12 years to adapt to threats from the Russian Federation, with an emphasis on naval forces and air defense.

“I see a window in which we can implement the requirements agreed by NATO: a new command structure, new force structures, new regional plans. We can implement these plans and these decisions in the coming years, but we need to accelerate. We have to do it in two- three years to be sure that we are ready for anything that might happen,” the general added.

According to him, the main task of the Norwegian defense forces this year is to support Ukraine. This operation involves at least 10% of the logistics personnel of the Norwegian armed forces, as well as instructors.

(C)UNIAN 2024