US bombers in Norway for first time
February 5, 2021
In what’s being described as a demonstration of power, American B1 bombers will be taking part in exercises in Norway along with 200 US soldiers based at the Ørland air base for the next month. It’s the first time the so-called “heavy bombers” will operate from Norway but opposition Members of Parliament are not impressed.
“This is part of a pattern of an escalation that takes Norway steadily farther into a new cold war between the US and Russia,” warned MP Bjørnar Moxnes of the Reds Party. Both he and Audun Lysbakken, leader of the Socialist Left Party (SV), think Norway is thus drawn into rising tensions.
Two killed in avalanche on Jan Mayen
February 1, 2021
Two of the 18 defense department personnel stationed on the remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen were killed over the weekend by an avalanche while out skiing. A third member of the group managed to dig himself out after two hours under the snow.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen and the chief of Norway’s defense forces, Eirik Kristoffersen, all sent their condolences following the unusual fatal accident that hit the small community hard. The victims were a woman in her 50s from Western Norway and a man in his 30s from Nordland who were both civilian defense employees.
Norway cancels major exercise involving 1,000 US Marines amid coronavirus concerns
U.S. Marines move through the forest on a patrol during Exercise Reindeer II in Setermoen, Norway, in November 2020. The Marine Corps is assessing what to do with 1,000 Marines who are in Norway for a large training exercise which has been canceled amid concerns about an increase in coronavirus cases in the country. PATRICK KING/U.S. MARINE CORPS
By STARS AND STRIPES Published: January 27, 2021
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Corona cancels NATO exercise
January 26, 2021
NATO’s large annual winter exercise in Norway called “Joint Viking” was halted on Tuesday, because of what Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen called “a demanding infection situation” in the country. Many thought it never should have begun, since it involved the arrival of 3,000 soldiers from abroad in the midst of a pandemic.
All NATO soldiers taking part in the Joint Viking exercises were tested on arrival before going into quarantine, like here at Bardufoss. Now the entire winter exercise is being cancelled because of infection concerns in Norway as a whole. PHOTO: Forsvaret/Øyvind Baardsen
NATO exercise on Corona virus alert
January 11, 2021
At a time when the Norwegian government is strongly urging against all travel, around 3,000 soldiers from several NATO countries are arriving in Northern Norway this month to take part in annual winter military exercises. A total of 45 had tested positive as of Sunday, but Norway’s defense minister insists there’s no cause for alarm.
Norwegian Army medical personnel are testing all NATO troops arriving in Northern Norway this month for annual winter exercises. PHOTO: Forsvaret/Øyvind Baardsen
“The defense department’s most important assignment during a pandemic is to remain operative and carry out their assignments,” Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen said on national radio Sunday. He defended the NATO exercise on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) as the military itself was confirming the extent of Corona infection.