Speaking at the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø - a city in northern Norway above the Arctic Circle and a hub for Arctic policy and research - Støre outlined how military, economic and energy security in the High North have become inseparable.
While Russia does not currently pose an immediate military threat in the Arctic, Støre warned against complacency.
Moscow’s war against Ukraine has tied down significant Russian military resources, but this situation will not last indefinitely.
Once the war ends, Russia is likely to reassert its military presence in the Arctic, making it essential for NATO allies to prepare now rather than react later.
That preparation, he stressed, must involve close allied coordination, not only in defence planning but also in economic and energy strategy.
Støre placed particular emphasis on energy security, noting that Norwegian gas supplies played a decisive role in allowing Poland to break its dependence on Russian gas.
This shift, accelerated after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has reshaped Europe’s energy map.
As a result, stability in northern Norway and across the Arctic has become directly linked to the security of European states far beyond the region.
(mp)
Source: PAP