Norwegian defense officials aren't declaring a new Cold War with Russia, but Norway's huge neighbour in the northeast is once again being described as a threat, also in the military sense.

Relations between Russia and Norway have been strained of late, over incidents ranging from illegal fishing in the Barents to collapsed investment prospects in Russian gas fields to Russian restrictions on salmon imports.

At the same time, Russia has been asserting itself all over Europe, often in unpopular ways. It has cut off gas supplies to countries that don't agree to its terms, it has refused entry to top officials traveling to Russia on business, and it has rekindled Russian nationalism to a degree that worries human rights activists. Suspicious murders of government critics also have sparked widespread international concern.

Newspaper Aftenposten has gone through a series of recent speeches and reports written by Norwegian defense officials, and documented use of descriptions of Russia that reflect the recent tensions.

The most revealing was a fresh report from the defense institute FFI (Forsvarets forsvarsinstitutt) that analyzed threats against Norway. In the report, which sets the premises for the Defense Ministry from 2009 to 2012, Russia is identified as a "military threat." There's no fear of invasion, but rather a "limited, military action."

The report notes that the institute may be criticized for its classification of Russia, but even Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen has altered her word usage of late. She has stressed that Russia isn't likely to exert power, but notes that its military build-up can't be overlooked.

"We must be aware that developments can take another direction than we want and expect," Strøm-Erichsen said in a recent speech before the defense group Oslo Militære Samfund.

'Demand for attention'
Espen Barth Eide, state secretary attached to the Defense Ministry, says Russia has consciously positioned itself as an "international player with a demand for attention and influence." Oil income and foreign currency reserves have helped give the country new economic clout that it lacked when the Soviet Union fell apart.

Barth Eide also rejects any talk of a new Cold War, but notes that Russia "is back on the international stage." Its president, Vladimir Putin, is working hard to keep it there, and boost Russian self-confidence.

"It's more important than ever that we continue our policies based on dialogue and concrete cooperation, both multilaterally and bilaterally," Barth Eide told Aftenposten.

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/lo...cle1641031.ece

Originally Posted by bulldogg

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/lo...cle1641031.ece

Im thinking of nuks as of right now=====Russian nuks ????????????????????????? Looks like Russia is geting pissed off.

Well, Putin last Term expires this year. Here's opening that whoever succeeds him will be less aggressive..

Welcome to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. I still call the russians "Soviets" for a reason. It's just like that clip from the Simpsons from a while ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIRT7HWEXnA

Anyways, the Soviets still want to be a Superpower and they still have three threats.

1. NATO / Free Europe
2. Islamofascism
3. Red China / The Sino-Soviet Split is still in force to some degree. Nothing Major but still. But that is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The Ivan and Ching are becoming fast friends again and are even playing war together.

Lastly, the world in of itself is going back to a pre WWI Geo-Politcal stance. Study WWI and see what I'm talking about.

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

Welcome to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. I still call the russians "Soviets" for a reason. It's just like that clip from the Simpsons from a while ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIRT7HWEXnA

Anyways, the Soviets still want to be a Superpower and they still have three threats.

1. NATO / Free Europe
2. Islamofascism
3. Red China / The Sino-Soviet Split is still in force to some degree. Nothing Major but still. But that is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The Ivan and Ching are becoming fast friends again and are even playing war together.

Lastly, the world in of itself is going back to a pre WWI Geo-Politcal stance. Study WWI and see what I'm talking about.

I just craked up lolololololol like that clip from the Simpsons from a while ago

We need another President Reagan to deal with Ruskies

I am seriously concerned about the recent developments in the Norwegian - Sov... Sorry, Russian relationship.

We have seen this coming for years - but the people in charge have closed their ears for all warnings and cut the defence budgets and infrastructure to the bare bone. The few coming years will be very interesting.

Mr Putin may be the greatest tzar in the russian history and businessman same time.
Russian weapons are cheap but very effective and every kids want them.

Well, the truth is that Russia and China are involved in substantial military build ups, and are not friends of the free democracies - even if they are unlikely to attack any time soon.

Talk softly and carry a big stick, it was ever thus.

Originally Posted by sunb!

I am seriously concerned about the recent developments in the Norwegian - Sov... Sorry, Russian relationship.

We have seen this coming for years - but the people in charge have closed their ears for all warnings and cut the defence budgets and infrastructure to the bare bone. The few coming years will be very interesting.

Norway is a full NATO Member.... and Russia has.... well not much, The Warsaw Pact is dead.

Soviet Union
Poland
East Germany
Czechoslovakia
Bulgaria
Hungary
Romania
Albania

Out of the original Warsaw Pact members the Soviet Union is no more and East Germany as a separate Nation is no more, and some former Warsaw Pact members are now NATO Members.

What's Russia going to do cut off the Vodka supply?
I do not believe such an action would be covered under NATO authority for any Military Response, but Russia would still think twice in my opinion.