The Norwegian Armed Forces and Defence Policy

4.1.1 The Norwegian Armed Forces

The Norwegian Armed Forces are the state’s tool for maintaining Norway’s security against external threats and consist of the Navy, the Air Force, and the Army. In addition both the Home Guard and the Civilian Defence are important contributors. In total the Norwegian Armed Forces consist of 24,450 personnel and a full mobilisation of approximately 70,000 combatant personnel (IISS 2013: 161).

According the Norwegian Constitution the King of Norway is commander-in-chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces, a power which today is executed by the Government. The management of the Norwegian Armed Forces is twofold. The Minister of Defence represents the political leadership and is responsible for shaping, running and controlling Norwegian security and defence policy. The Chief of Defence heads the military organisation which also entails the role of top military advisor for the Ministry of Defence. The Government has the executive responsibility for the military and civilian preparedness during peacetime and for the leadership of the combined military and civilian capabilities during war. The Chief of Defence is in command of the Armed Forces during peace time, and the Government’s closest military adviser during war (Bjørlo and Eriksen 1999: 135-136). It is evident from the structure that the Norwegian Armed Forces are under political control and it is for example the Norwegian Parliament which decides what operations to participate in, how to structure the Armed Forces, the budget and the acquisition of new materials. Because the political control over the Norwegian Armed Forces is so clear, the question of democratic control with regard to participation in EU-led operations becomes relevant.

4.1.2 Norwegian Security and Defence Politics

Norway is a relatively young nation, achieving full independence in 1905, and has always had a special pull towards the two Atlantic powers Great Britain and the US (Knutsen 2000: 18;

Tamnes and Eriksen 1999). When the Second World War broke out, Norway’s initially sought to continue its neutral policy from the First World War, a course that was terminated by the German invasion 9 April 1940. The security and defence policy after 1945 was naturally marked by the unexpected German occupation and the shared border with the Soviet Union, and Norwegian foreign policy has consistently been ‘a balancing act between internationalism and national self-assertion’ (Østerud 2005: 713).

After the Second World War it also became clear that ‘few if any single countries – and in particular no small European country – could realistically hope to survive entirely free of defensive alliances’ (Samstag 2011: 11). Because of the Norway-Soviet border, NATO was the apparent option for Norway during the Cold War (Skogan 1985: 39-41). After 1945, Norwegian defence policy has rested on four pillars; armed forces prepared for conventional invasion, allied military support, full mobilisation and the Total Defence Concept (Bjørlo and Eriksen 1999: 135-136). With the Cold War ending, the conditions for Norwegian foreign

policy changed dramatically. No longer was the Soviet threat lurking in the back of every decision which allowed greater manoeuvrability (Nyhamar 2006: 149).

Table 4.1: Goals in Norwegian Security and Defence Policies

Goals in Norwegian Security Policy Goals in Norwegian Defence Policy

 To prevent war and the emergence of various kinds of threats to Norwegian and collective security

 To contribute to peace, stability and the further development of the international rule

 Together with our Allies, to defend Norway and NATO against assault or attack

 To protect the society against assault and attack from state and non-state actors

 Alone and together with Allies, to secure Norwegian sovereignty, rights and interests as well as maintaining Norwegian freedom of action in the face of military or other pressure

 Through participation in multinational peace operations authorised by UN mandate and through international defence cooperation, to contribute to peace, stability, the enforcement of international law and respect for human rights, and to prevent the use of force by state and non-state actors against Norwegian and international security

 To counter all kinds of assaults or attacks in order to safeguard Norwegian and collective security and, together with Allies, to

contribute to the collective defence of Norway and other Allies in accordance with our NATO Treaty obligations

 To contribute to safeguarding the security of Norwegian society, saving lives and limiting the consequences of accidents, natural disasters, assaults and attacks by state or non-state actors

Source: Forsvarsdepartementet 2013: 2-3.

The main goal in the Norwegian security policy is today to maintain Norway’s fundamental security interests, mainly preserve sovereignty, territorial integrity, as well as political manoeuvrability. The defence policy states what the Norwegian Armed Forces shall contribute to reach those goals. Details of the goals in Norwegian security and defence policies are listed in table 4.1. The main lines in Norwegian security and defence policy are marked by continuity, but at the same time they have to be adapted to changes in the international community (Forsvarsdepartementet 2012: 9).

According to international law, the use of military force is only legal in individual or collective self-defence, or if the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) authorises it (UN 1945: chapter VII). UNSC can either decide to establish an UN-led operation, or give regional actors mandate to lead. Since 1945, Norway has participated in 100 international operations, in 40 countries with more than 100,000 soldiers (Forsvaret 2012: 2-3). There is a long tradition, and a cross-party consensus, that Norway shall only participate in international

operation if there is at least one UN resolution supporting it. This is because the UN-mandate gives the international operation and the force legality and legitimacy under international law (Forsvaret 2012: 10-11). This principle can further be seen as an underscore of the focus on legitimacy also present in the Norwegian security and defence policy.