You would probably never describe Norway and Russia as being best buds geopolitically,

but until recently they have had an understanding.

We have been at peace with Russia for a thousand years.

That is Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Garstra, his country shares 122 miles of border with

Russia.

We live next to the world's most important nuclear weapons arsenal, which has called for

what I call high-north low tensions.

Russia and Norway have a complicated history.

On the one hand, there's that arsenal, he mentioned.

On the other, there's a monument in the Norwegian border town of Hirkenis, dedicated to

Soviet soldiers who liberated the area from the Nazis.

In recent years, the two countries have cooperated on nuclear waste disposal, managing shared

cod fisheries, and important climate research.

But that was before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.

Right now we have a Russia that is engaging in broad land, air, missile war, attacking

a neighbor influences everything.

Norway needs an alliance, allies training, relevant defence to be safe, and that's what

we practice here.

The practice the Prime Minister is talking about is a massive NATO war game earlier this

year called Cold Response.

The troops from 27 countries conducted drills on helicopter landings, on aircraft carriers,

submarine defence, and amphibious D-Day-style troop landings.

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