Norway's new authorities urge the United States and Britain to stop provoking Russia

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At the NATO summit in Riga, Latvia, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Witfeldt told the Allies that the new government in Oslo wants their air force and navy to keep their distance from the border Norwegian-Russian territories. Thus, the Norwegian authorities, albeit in a diplomatic manner, urged the United States and Great Britain to stop provoking Russia, the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang (VG) writes.

In 2020, London and Washington held two rounds of military exercises in the Barents Sea, affecting Moscow's interests. At one of the stages, the frigate "Thor Heyerdahl" of the Norwegian Navy, together with American and British ships, approached a distance of 50 nautical miles to the Russian coast. It is far from the maritime border, but within the exclusive economic zones of the Russian Federation. Since then, the Norwegians do not want to further aggravate relations with the Russians and will communicate in detail with their allies about this.



For Norway, it is important to have a military presence in the areas close to us. But, in our opinion, it will be better if in the immediate vicinity of the border with the Russian Federation we manage ourselves - with the help of Norwegian aircraft and ships. This is extremely important for us

- told the publication Witfeldt.

The Minister stressed that it is in the interests of Norway to take care of the defense of the regions bordering with Russia independently. Oslo is convinced that there is no point in teasing Moscow. For example, the former head of the operational headquarters of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Rune Jacobsen, criticized the Allies last year for the aforementioned movements in the Barents Sea. He then explained that Norwegian planes and ships do not cause concern to the Russians, since they are used to them, because Norway is Russia's neighbor.

We are trying to convey to our partners that Norway is NATO in the north. We want it to remain so in the future: not the American P8 reconnaissance aircraft flying east of Anneuil, but our own

- pointed then Jacobsen.

Now the new government of Norway wants to improve its relations with Russia. Witfeldt and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre have already talked with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Witfeldt concluded that Oslo is dependent on NATO guarantees, but it is important for Norway to maintain the right balance between containment and appeasement in its relationship with Russia.
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    1. Mantrid Machine
      Mantrid Machine
      +4
      2 December 2021 23: 16
      Wow, finally it came to the Vikings. But better late than never))
    2. Face
      Face
      +2
      3 December 2021 00: 41
      And this is the right approach. The Norwegians have a good chance of not being burnt to the ground in the name of the interests of a narrow group of people in top hats.
    3. Boa kaa
      Boa kaa
      0
      3 December 2021 12: 59
      It is high time for the Norgs to understand that we do not need anything from them. Do not meddle with us, because we are not even going to climb to you. And hauling chestnuts from the fire for Uncle Sam is an extremely thankless and dangerous business - you can seriously fry your little hands!
      If the new Norwegian government is able to understand and understand this, then both sides will calmly and normally (within the framework of the neighborhood agreements) coexist. Peace and mutual respect for each other's interests, and we don't need anything else from the Vikings. This is the platform on which our relations with neighbors are built. It would be high time for all interested parties to understand this.
      AHA.
    4. Kuramori Reika
      Kuramori Reika
      0
      3 December 2021 15: 41
      As if the Norwegians' Wishlist will save their population from being exterminated by nuclear bombs. They have long since decided on belonging to an offensive military bloc. But due to geography, their country will become a natural nuclear desert separating Western countries from the borders of Russia.