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Norwegian and Russian generals meet to discuss shared Arctic border

Two generals from Norway and Russia met in the Arctic on Thursday to discuss border cooperation, the Norwegian Armed Forces said on Friday.

Published: 6 October 2023 16:08 CEST

Pictured is the Norwegian border with Russia.

Norwegian and Russian officials met to discuss border cooperation. File photo: A general view of the Norwegian border crossing station at Storskog on (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP)

The talks marked the first such known meeting between the two since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.

Lieutenant General Yngve Odlo, chief of Norway’s joint headquarters and Lieutenant General Stanislav Vladimirovich Maslov, chief of the FSB Border

Directorate for Russia’s Western Arctic region, met on a Norwegian coast guard vessel, the Norwegian military said in a statement.
Norway and Russia share a 198-kilometre border above the Arctic Circle.

“It is important to conduct these meetings to discuss challenges and agree on common objectives and necessary measures regarding border cooperation, rescue cooperation, and fisheries management,” Odlo said in a statement.

“It can prevent accidents and misunderstandings between Norway and Russia,” he added.

Representatives from the Norwegian coast guard, the Norwegian border commissioner, the Norwegian defence attache in Moscow and Odlo made up the Norwegian delegation.

Cooperation on the Norwegian-Russian border is based on an agreement signed in 1949. The countries have also cooperated on fisheries since the 1970s.

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Norway uncovers Russian agents amid sabotage concerns

Torgils Lutro, head of PST Vest, disclosed in an interview with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) that these agents may have been preparing for acts of sabotage.

NRK noted that potential targets could have included Haakonsvern, northern Europe’s largest naval base, as well as crucial oil, gas, and power facilities in the region.

Lutro said that Russian agents were focused on gathering intelligence on critical infrastructure, military installations, and Norwegian preparedness routines.

While the exact number of exposed agents remains undisclosed, the PST has previously warned about the risks posed by Russian espionage and that espionage activity has heightened since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“In Vestland (County), we have strongly suspected, but have also uncovered, hostile and unwanted Russian intelligence activities since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022,” Lutro said.

Russia’s motives

The PST Vest chief suggested that Russia aimed to tarnish Norway’s reputation among its allies.

“It’s evident that one of Russia’s objectives is to portray us in a negative light. They seek to demonstrate that we lack control over our own affairs or that we’re unable to support our allies during future crises,” he said.

Following the war in Ukraine, Norwegian authorities have expelled over 15 people from the Russian embassy in Norway over suspected espionage.

This has prompted Russia to reassess its intelligence personnel and resources, according to the PST.

“Identifying these agents isn’t straightforward. They blend into society, which is part of their job. They may not even hold Russian citizenship, but are motivated by factors like money or threats,” Lutro said.

The PST has consistently highlighted Russian intelligence activities as a growing threat to Norway’s security in its annual threat assessments, including the most recent one in 2024.

“We’ve employed various methods to uncover these activities, and in some instances, we have a clear understanding of how they operate,” Lutro said.

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