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Today, the government presented the new long-term plan for the defense sector.
The opposition rejected the first proposal that was presented to the Storting this spring, and specific demands were made for eight improvements to accept the government’s proposal.
Thus, Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen (H) and Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) were forced to prepare a new proposal for a long-term plan. This will be considered by the Storting on Friday.
Threats to Norway
The former HV commander and Army commander has emphasized in previous interviews the importance of having enough soldiers available.
After reading the content of the new long-term plan, General Eirik Johan Kristoffersen signs the following certificate.
– This is a good long-term plan for the defense sector and a necessary strengthening of the Armed Forces in light of the security situation facing Norway.. This long-term plan will give me good opportunities to develop and strengthen the Armed Forces if we can implement it, believes Kristoffersen.
- He began his military career in 1988.
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Service of troops and company in the Clarification Battalion / 6th division (1995-2000)
- Graduated from the Commander’s School of Arms Engineering (BSIV, 1989) and the War School (1995)
- He graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 2009 and from the U.S. Army War College in 2015.
- He was awarded the 2011 War Cross with the Sword “for his personally demonstrated bravery and particularly outstanding leadership during international operations in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008.”
- He has served for several terms in the UNIFIL force in Lebanon.
- Appointed to the brigades on June 14, 2015.
- He has been behind him for 14 years in the special forces (Special Command of the Armed Forces / Army Hunter Command).
- In the period 2005-2010, he was operations officer and deputy commander of the Special Forces Hunter Command / Army of the Armed Forces.
- From 2010 to 2014 he was commander of the special command of the Armed Forces.
- In the period 2015-2017 he was deputy commander of the special forces of the Armed Forces.
- In 2016-2017, he was appointed chief of planning and exercises at the operational headquarters of the Armed Forces (FOH).
- Appointed General of Division and Chief of the National Guard on November 1, 2017.
- In June 2019, he was ordained as the new Army Commander, joining in the fall of 2019.
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He had the rank of Major General as Commander of the Army. As Chief of Defense, he becomes a general, the highest rank in the Armed Forces.
- (Sources: Forsvaret / Store norske leksikon / Wikipedia)
You are now announcing that you are prepared to take overall responsibility within your leeway to implement the plan as the Storting wishes.
– The defense of Norway concerns the whole country and affects us all
The Chief of Defense notes that the threats Norway faces today are more complex and unpredictable than before. Remember that attacks on civil society can also affect national security.
– We must involve the society that surrounds us. Because a defense of Norway against a military attack concerns the whole country and affects us all, emphasizes the general.
Read also: Military experts: Russia simulated attacks on Sweden
Video: Norwegian fighter jets are drilled with B-1 bombers in Norwegian airspace
He points out that there are now plans for further strengthening of response capacity and preparedness, a greater capacity to receive allied reinforcements and a greater presence and preparation in the north, which together will give the Armed Forces greater operational capacity.
– Strengthened preparedness and responsiveness are essential to our defense capabilities. Within the framework of this long-term plan, I want to emphasize that the Armed Forces is organized and seems as similar as possible in peace, crisis and war. This long-term plan will provide me with good opportunities to develop and strengthen the Armed Forces if we succeed in its implementation, says Defense Chief Eirik Johan Kristoffersen.
– I would have liked a faster strengthening of the squad
General Eirik Kristoffersen on his first trip as Chief of Defense. Here in air wing 133, Evenes. Photo: Armed Forces
At the same time, it does not hide that the Armed Forces will continue to have great needs even if everything is implemented in the new long-term plan.
– There will always be more things that we would like, or something that we would have preferred to happen faster. If there had been room for more investment, I would have liked a faster build-up of staff. We in the Armed Forces want the greatest possible effect as soon as possible, recalls the general.
Kristoffersen is very pleased that the Army is being strengthened with a mechanized battalion, that coastal corvettes are being continued, that frigates are being upgraded and that submarines are being extended for life.
– The ability to operate in the cyber domain is strengthened, air radars are updated and special forces are strengthened at the same time that the work to replace the Bell-412 helicopters begins. Recruitment training moves outside of operational departments so they can focus on their core tasks, sums up Norway’s new Chief of Defense.
Read also: The opposition with eight demands for a new defense plan
Video: Electronic service: Russia and China remain the most important security threats for Norway
