Senior defense leaders from U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and the Norwegian Defence Staff focused on near and long-term security cooperation in the High North during military staff talks held in Oslo February 14, 2024. The daylong discussions were hosted at Norway’s Ministry of Defence headquarters.
Led by Norwegian Brig. Gen. Lars Huse, Norwegian Defence Staff’s head of strategic plans and development, and USEUCOM’s deputy director for security cooperation, policy, partnering and space capabilities, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Bryony Terrell, the talks also featured military representatives from a number of other stakeholder organizations – from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe to U.S. Embassy-Oslo, U.S. Northern Command and the Minnesota National Guard, Norway’s state partner.
“With a relationship spanning some 75 years, the strategic importance and mutual respect that underpins the relationship between U.S. and Norwegian military forces are unmatched,” Terrell, the American general said. “As co-chairs of the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable and as two of the most active militaries training and exercising in the High North, maintaining security and stability in the Arctic region also serves to further solidify our bilateral relationships.”
Norwegian and U.S. subject matter experts delved into a wide array of defense-related issues – from planned exercises like Nordic Response to be held in the Arctic’s extreme cold and rugged environment to the future of Arctic security forums in furthering the world’s understanding of this strategic region.
Discussions also focused on strategic initiatives like Agile Combat Employment and the integration of over-the-pole activities between the Norwegian Defence Staff and America’s two geographic combatant commands charged with defending the Arctic region, USNORTHCOM and USEUCOM. Additionally, the bilateral military delegations received updates on the recently approved addition of eight more Agreed Facilitated Areas (AFAs) where air, land, maritime and space components are able to operate in Norway. While still pending public comment before final approval is granted, AFAs enable greater cooperation between the U.S. and Norway and are foundational to the future defense of the High North.
