Posted by: McQ on Monday, August 25, 2008 Although Norway is nowhere near Georgia geographically, what has happened there has caused some in Norway to be concerned with Russia's intentions in their neck of the woods: Several Norwegian opposition politicians say Russia’s intervention in the South Ossetia crisis shows that the country has Great Power aspirations, which could eventually pose a threat against Norwegian positions in the High North.Specifically, the leader of the Norwegian Conservative Party, Ms. Erna Solberg, is concerned about Russia's apparent desire for access to oil near the Spitsbergen archipelago: It worries me that the Russians are showing disrespect for our right to govern the Spitsbergen archipelago, she says to the newspaper. She also accuses the Norwegian red-green government coalition of failing to nurse relations with the USA.Notice the last line. She also points out: "We can not defend ourselves alone, Norway needs a strong army", she says to newspaper Aftenposten.About that relationship with the US? But I think she's dead on right when she talks about Russia's renewed "great power" aspirations. As for the Spitsbergen archipelago, Russia has decided it has a right to explore in the area of the archipelago while Norway declares it doesn't: Russia this week confirmed its intention to start looking for oil and gas in waters near the Spitsbergen archipelago. Meanwhile, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says in a newspaper interview that Norway has the right to establish an economic zone around the islands and that all industrial activities in the area are subjected to Norwegian regulations.Of course, until energy became an issue, Russia pretty well abided by the economic zone Norway had established and policed around the islands. But that was Pre-Putin. Additionally Norway contends the islands are on the Norwegian continental shelf and thus a part of Norway's sovereign territory. The Russians (and interestingly the UK) both say it has a continental shelf of its own. Norway, obviously, is not happy with these developments. It is no secret that Norway fears a more direct Russian engagement in the sensitive issues relating to the Spitsbergen islands. Over the last couple of years, Russian authorities have repeatedly signaled an enhanced policy approach to the area.Said another way, they've gotten much more aggressive. Norway isn't the only country concerned about the Russian "great power" complex. Sweden too is rethinking its priorities as well as its relationship with Russia: An editorial in newspaper Dagens Nyheter today highlights the need for a revision of Swedish defence policies.So far, of course, it is all talk, no action, however perhaps, just perhaps, there's a glimmer of hope that Europe will wake up and smell the bear musk. Taking charge of their own defense - which, of course means many more euros spent for defense than is currently being done - would be a good start. If that actually happens, Russia's move into Georgia may turn out, in the long-run, to have been an extremely important event. But not in the way Russia imagined it to be. |
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