This week, colleagues from NATO and NATO member states gathered in Oslo for a hybrid symposium to discuss strengthened defence and deterrence against hybrid threats.
Photo: NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe represented the Alliance at the hybrid symposium in Oslo this week. Here he is pictured with part of the host delegation – Minister of Justice and Public Security Astri Aas-Hansen and Anniken Krutnes, Special Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo by Ministry of Justice
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“The world has become more dangerous and unpredictable. The government is clear that Norway’s security is best safeguarded through cooperation with others. Shared situational awareness and the exchange of knowledge are crucial to strengthening our collective resilience and deterrence against hybrid threats. We must prevent, detect, and handle threats, and Norway must be better equipped to face serious incidents,” says Minister of Justice and Public Security Astri Aas-Hansen.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security have hosted NATO’s annual hybrid symposium for the past two days. NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe represented the Alliance.
Allies have discussed how the situation looks from the north, with Russia as a close neighbor, as well as how the Alliance’s eastern and southern countries experience Russia’s increasing use of hybrid threats. Influence operations and sabotage against critical infrastructure have been central topics, along with possible measures to strengthen collective defense against threats such as disinformation.
“Norway is facing its most serious security situation since World War II. Russia has intensified its use of composite means against Allies. Disinformation, sabotage, and intelligence activities are among these, and they affect society broadly. The line between war and peace is being challenged,” says State Secretary Andreas Flåm in the Ministry of Defence.
“Hybrid and complex threats challenge Norway as an open democracy in new ways. These threats require us to cooperate even better—both between authorities and research communities here in Norway, and together with our NATO Allies. Forums like this make us better prepared to defend ourselves against hybrid threats in the future,” says State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.