France and Norway will cooperate to protect underwater infrastructure from hybrid threats

According to the latest report on French arms exports, Norway represented only 0.23 % [soit 268,1 millions] Orders obtained between 2014 and 2023. Similarly, It must be said that. Similarly, despite cordial and old military relations [au moins depuis la bataille de Narvik, 1940]Paris and Oslo had so far ever sealed in “reinforced” cooperation in this area. Moreover,

Which is no longer the case. However, Indeed. Consequently, in January, a few months after a stopover of the attack nuclear submarine [SNA] Amethyst at the port of Grøtsund, just north of the city of Tromsø, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, and his Norwegian counterpart Bjørn ARILD GRAM, signed a letter of intent to remedy it. Similarly,

And. Similarly, on the france norway will cooperate protect occasion of an official visit by President Macron to Oslo, France and Norway formalized a “strategic partnership”, claiming their determination to “preserve the security of the North Atlantic” via NATO as well as their intention to “promote a secure, resilient and competitive Europe”. However,

This strategic partnership has several components. That of interest to defense questions evokes the will of France. Norway to “build a military relationship […] stronger within the alliance [atlantique] Everything “by strengthening their interoperability” and “developing a common strategic culture”.

Stressing the “great convergence” of their “strategic interests”. the two countries have agreed to strengthen their operational cooperation “in the maritime field” as well as their “interoperability in the land and air fields”.

“To maintain stability. strengthen deterrent and collective defense in northern Europe and beyond, they declare that it is important that the French and Norwegian armed forces plan and carry out france norway will cooperate protect operations in the far north,” it reads in the text published by the Elysée.

While the defense. intervention frigate [FDI, classe Ronarc’h] French Naval Group is one of the finalists of a call for tenders issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, Paris and Oslo have committed the commitment to “strengthen the industrial and technological basis of European defense” and to encourage “the French and Norwegian defense industries to carry out joint projects, in particular within the framework of European Union programs and initiatives” [UE].

As a reminder, Norway is not part of the EU. On the other hand, it sealed a “security and defense partnership” with it and integrated the European defense market.

In addition. the “resilience and preparation” component is likely to concern the French forces in general and the French Navy in particular.

“Recognizing the importance of natural gas from the Norwegian continental plateau france norway will cooperate protect for energy security in Europe”. France and Norway “will strengthen their cooperation to protect underwater infrastructure of hybrid threats, in particular by increasing maritime surveillance and by conducting joint exercises to improve their state of preparation and their reaction capacities”, advances the text of this “strategic partnership”.

With the war in Ukraine. the sanctions aimed at Russia, Norway has become one of the main natural gas suppliers in Europe, with more than 90 gas and oil sites which, divided between the Barent Sea, the Norway Sea and the North Sea, are linked to a 9,000 km driving network. Which is not easy to monitor and protect.

Also. in May 2023, Norway signed an agreement with the United Kingdom in order to increase their military cooperation in order to improve the protection of their respective submarine infrastructures [gazoducs, câbles, etc.]. What was logical since these countries share a maritime france norway will cooperate protect border in the North Sea.

That said. after sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and North Stream 2 pipelines [et pour lequel des Ukrainiens sont soupçonnés]France had helped Norway monitor its energy infrastructure by sending the Metropolitan support and assistance building [BSAM] “Garonne” patrol towards the oil field of Oseberg, in the North Sea. And this, in “close cooperation with the Norwegian Royal Navy”.

Photo: Bsam Garonne – Norwegian Defense Ministry