We hereby share an unofficial translation of an article published by Tjen Folket Media on October 11.

Finnmark: Several Politicians Seek Increased Militarization

Both before and after the national budget was presented on Wednesday, October 7, several politicians and a former army chief have spoken to the media to demand more funding for “civil preparedness” and the military in Finnmark.

Due to the conflicts in the Middle East, several shipping companies have begun exploring the possibility of using sea routes through the Arctic. So far this year, a record number of ships have chosen to travel the northern route between Europe and Asia. These new economic opportunities in the Arctic are now leading to growing interest from the imperialists. US imperialism has secured new military bases in Greenland through threats and negotiations with Danish imperialism. The security conference scheduled to take place on an aircraft carrier in Oslo this November will focus on Norway and NATO’s northern flank. This is an area where Norwegian and Russian imperialism are competing for influence.

Finnmark is the northernmost county in Norway and also borders Russia. The government has taken several measures to increase the militarization of Finnmark in recent years. In 2024, the government decided to establish the Finnmark Brigade, and earlier this year it moved up the completion date from 2035 to 2033. This fall, the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB) will establish a “Center for Resilience in the North” in Kirkenes. The center is intended to be a “hub for emergency preparedness, total defense, and civil protection in the north” and will work across sectors and national borders, according to the DSB itself. In the national budget, the government has allocated 15 million kroner to the center. When Minister of Justice and Civil Protection Astri Aas-Hansen (Ap) visited Finnmark in September of this year, she announced that the temporary pilot project involving “civil protection weeks” would become permanent at all high schools in Finnmark.

Nevertheless, these measures are not enough for everyone. When Aas-Hansen visited Finnmark, she faced criticism from both Finnmark County Mayor Hans Jacob Bønå (H) and Member of Parliament Bengt Rune Strifeldt (Frp) that there was insufficient investment in “emergency preparedness” in Finnmark. Magnus Mæland (H), mayor of Sør-Varanger, says, according to NRK, that Finnmark is “[…] one of the most important locations in terms of security policy in Europe and the world” and believes that the government should prioritize municipalities with defense installations.

In an interview with NRK, Tormod Heier, a professor at the Norwegian Defense University College and a former officer, says that if Norway spent more money on infrastructure in Finnmark, the Americans would be “very happy” and that “it would make it much safer for US forces to come to Norway’s aid, if necessary.” Robert Mood, a lieutenant general and former Army chief of staff and UN envoy, also told NRK that Finnmark is important for both Norwegian and American “security policy interests.” He also believes there is a significant gap between the strategic importance of Finnmark and the government’s investment in the north.

Politicians and individuals associated with the military, along with the conservative media, are attempting to build public support for further militarization of Norwegian society. In Northern Norway in particular, there is growing interest from various imperialist powers seeking to secure control over new trade routes and resources.