We are running out of time to build defences against Russia, warns Norway's commander in chief
Moscow is building up its weapons stockpiles much faster than Nato allies had anticipated, creating a sense of urgency, the general said
Norway must ramp up defence spending in the face of a potential war with Russia within three years, the country’s armed forces chief has warned.
General Eirik Kristoffersen said in an interview with Dagbladet, a Norwegian newspaper, that time was running out to build up the nation’s defences in the face of an increasingly unpredictable Russia.
“The current window of opportunity will remain open for a year or two, perhaps three, which is when we will have to invest even more in our defence,” Gen Kristoffersen said in the interview, published on Sunday.
“We do not know what will become of Russia in three years. We need to prepare a strong national defence to be able to meet an uncertain and unpredictable world,” he added.
The Norwegian general said Moscow was building up its weapons stockpiles much faster than Nato allies had anticipated, adding to the sense of urgency.
Damn, the Russian trolls are really trying today huh. I've seen them in multiple threads making the same damned points.
Ironically demonstrating why the EU needs to invest more in defences. Cyber and physical
Russia wants NATO and other nations to feel that they could invade so the countries will start focusing on thier own defensive positions and stop giving aod to Ukraine. Expect to see a LOT of fake news and propaganda about this.
Not to say they're NOT doing this, but it would be very counterproductive. If you think Russia might attack you, the cheapest option is to arm Ukraine. You get to fight Russia and you only pay materiel costs not personnel. A lot more bang for the buck. Not to mention that by arming Ukraine you're also coalition building with every other country that's doing the same. Which means if Russia does attack you, you can be quite confident that you will also be armed if not directly supported due to the escalation.
Yeahhh Ukrainian lives are cheap! Give em a gun and throw em into the meat grinder boys!
The only way I can see Ukraine being saved is by actually getting them into Nato.
Else you're just throwing their lives aways to kill some Russian draftee.
They're choosing to defend their own country and they're asking for help. It's not like anyone's forcing them.
The west has been twiddling their fucking thumbs since the invasion started and the only reason they did things in the first place is because people had to twist their representatives arms. While Russia may not invade Norway, I think there is a huge probability of them trying to take a bite out of Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.
There is quite literally no chance of this. If it happens, I'll buy you a year's worth of beer.
Less likely with a Democrat president, but if a Republican (especially Trump) gets back in power I can see them deciding not to support NATO.
Man, I wish I was still an alcoholic
That's what everyone said about them invading Ukraine.
Except that's not true, and Russia had precedent already from 2014. Oh and also Ukraine is not in NATO or the EU. So not really that surprising that Russia tried something.
You don't think he's willing to test the non-existent resolve of the EU defensive pact if America doesn't join the wars?
Nope. Ukraine was a lone wolf and Putin thought it'd be easy pickings (though I'm sure he realized pretty soon how much he fucked up), but no way he's going up against nations that are part of actual defensive pacts.
Why would Russia do that? What material, factual reasons do you have for them to do it?
Russia has repeatedly shown itself to have imperialist ambitions. Just ask Georgia and Ukraine.
Lul
"Hitler has promised the chancellor that he will be content with the Sudentenland."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_irredentism
Wtf does that have to do with anything? You think Putin and the current Russian government, who are staunch anti-communist and have repeatedly disavowed the USSR are…? Like what is the MATERIAL analysis here? You are just talking about your vibes and ideology!
Duuur what does Putin wanting to conquer former Russian Empire and Soviet holdings have to do with him wanting to conquer former Russian Empire and Soviet holdings duuuurrrr I'm surely making an honest argument!
If I say the Marxist buzzwords despite ignoring all their actual meanings people will agree with me!
Got it, so you have nothing. But that is obvious, or you wouldn’t think absurd things like this war was a war of conquest or anything like that.
I don't believe you're actually too dumb to understand the very idea of exploiting captured territory for manpower, industry, and wealth. You know, the very goal of imperialism, which Marx has quite a lot to say about.
It's worth remembering that officials say one thing in the media and do another in reality. It's all part of the information war.
I think the west is pretty concerned in not losing elections to Russia - intervened parties... I love democracies and everything, but they are proving to be extremely weak with lunatics like Putin roaming the streets.
I think that we need to build better ways of understanding between each other. Polarization is the real killer of democracy.
Well that..... And the fact that globalized capital isn't particularly beholden to the interest of individual nation states.
The west could utilize their economic hegemony to truly starve the Russian war machine if they wanted, but that would require leveraging their economic trade status with countries like India and China and would come with a large disruption of capital.
The biggest flaw in modern democratic states is fairly uniform in nature. Instead of corporations being beholden to their governments, governments are beholden to their corporations.
Norway has absolute Chadwicks in the form of Finland and. Sweden as buffers.
Finland has experience in kicking Soviet ass.
AFAIK Norway is the only nation bordering Russia that has never once in history been at war with it. This asstwat and other military men have been on Norwegian national media crying for more funds after the invasion of Ukraine. One has to see this in context of Norway having underfunded their military for some time and historically being subjugated by Denmark and Sweden. However, long story short, it is just fear mongering. Russia poses no credible threat to Norway with the backing of NATO.
You don't think there's a risk of NATO losing the us if trump wins?
NATO in the EU needs to be ready to step up
I would still be much more worried about the Baltic states being invaded. Even so, there is a reason no major powers have been at war since the invention of nukes, and NATO would not in any way be a pushover without the US.
I do not disagree on allocating more funds to the military. I even argued that it objectively has been underfunded. That does not change that this man is an asstwat and others like him try to scare Norwegians for their own purposes. I think a scared populace is a dangerous thing, possibly allowing for dangerous ideas to be implemented in the name of security. Recently some hefty surveillance has been implemented in Norway, which I blame on people like him.
Norway is part of NATO, and has strong incentives to make sure that its neighbours aren't at risk of being invaded. They still have reason to want to make sure Russia wouldn't be able to invade.
What do you mean?
Finland and Sweden getting invaded is terrible for Norway's economy's and plenty of individual lives, so Norway has a natural interest in making sure those countries are well defended, either through their own means or through diplomacy, regardless of their own individual risk of being attacked by Russia.
Yes, many in Norway have wanted to establish a nordic defense agreement, but this is now dead as Sweden and Finland are joining NATO. That being said, individually Finland and Sweden have much more military strength than Norway.
Russia would never invade Norway. It's just snow and trolls.
I am sorry but as you can tell by the number of downvotes received logic, nuance, and difference of perspective are not allowed these days on some English language forums when it comes to Russia. You must qualify all your statements with “Russia bad” and just join in the warmongering /s
I appreciate you saying this even though I sleep very well at night regardless of downvotes.
Bullshit warmongering propaganda. edit: and let me guess, part of the solution would be buying very expensive, US made weapons.
edit 2 since I see it's a popular post: I also love how - like how immigrants are at the same time too lazy to work and living on social security, but also stealing all the jobs - Russia is at the same time too weak and pathetic to invade a country like Ukraine but also going to start a war with all of NATO, lol. 🤡
Perpetually perplexed by those who still maintain Russia wouldn't invade a sovereign nation. It's not even "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" when at this point it's like "fool me 7 times in the last 20 years"
it's certainly not propaganda.. Russia is a shambles, and nobody knows what happens when Putin dies.. Norwegian generals are not known for hyperbole.. unlike little trolls on the internet..
and they certainly won't buy cheap Chinese and North Korean stuff like the Russians do
My first thought reading the headline is: I don't see how Russia is building up a stockpile while burning through their stockpile it in Ukraine. That makes no sense whatsoever.
Russia is also burning through bodies so I don't see them being particularly able or willing to try to invade Norway or anywhere else anytime soon.
It seems from all accounts they've got their hands full in Ukraine and are making little or no progress.
I think you're right about buying US weapons. I don't think it is warmongering but rather shilling for the military industrial complex.
Edit: still, I wouldn't disarm or anything and maybe somewhat shore up defense. Maybe a decade or two Russia tries some more stupid shit.
I would call a response prudent, especially with additional ties to Chinese manpower and the middle east playing up. Like it or not the whole world economy is linked to Chinas cheap manpower/goods and Middle East oil.
Four years ago we didn't think another global pandemic would happen, or a presidential cheeto would be done for insurrection (do it, not charged), or anything else of the last few years. Russia can still do something stupid that changes the course of human history.
Excellent point; I forgot what timeline we're in.
I mean, some people had to be and at least we can deal with it.
They threw all the tough ones in this timeline
USSR went through 1.5 million soldiers defending Moscow and 20 million in WW2 iirc just to put their viewpoint on casualties in perspective
That was not an invasion war though. They were fighting for their existence, which makes a world of difference.
On occasion their strategy has been "if we send in enough people, they'll eventually run out of bullets"
They out-Zapp Brannigan'ed Zapp Brannigan. That should terrify you on multiple levels
Russia is producing a lot. Yes, they are burning through more on the front line until now, but western support has ground to a near standstill in recent months, so it's entirely plausible that they could continue fighting and start building up supplies if NATO can't provide more weapons to Ukraine.
Dumbass. Hope you enjoy the gulag.
I'm sorry, who's the dumbass you are talking about?
Big bad gulag is gonna get you bro. Run!
I enjoy the goulash! 🥘
Borscht!
If you had an influx of say 100,000 people that would be enough to disrupt labour markets due to supply and demand and that would reduce wages and total avaliable jobs to the native population. So from a native point of view you are looking at either being unemployed or having a job at a lower wage.
Now if another 100,000 people came into the country and didn't work and was on benefits then as a native your taxes are going to them.
Those two groups of people don't impact each other. So both statements can be true. Low paid workers don't tend to create jobs. So from a low paid point of view you got nothing to gain from immigration.