Mr Chair,
As a small country with powerful neighbours, Norway considers it essential to maintain peace and stability, also in the High North. Norway has always been very vocal about our non-threatening intentions. Still, to maintain stability, we need the appropriate capabilities to deter any potential adversaries, and, if necessary, defend against a foreign attack. Based on our membership in NATO, both deterrence and defence are strengthened together with our allies. For deterrence to remain credible, our forces must exercise, including alongside Allied forces.
As notified in accordance with the relevant provisions and spirit of the Vienna Document, Norway will conduct one major national exercise with allied participation in 2025 – Exercise Joint Viking 2025 (JOVI25).
JOVI25 will be conducted from 3 to 14 March 2025 in the county of Troms. The number of participants is expected to be approximately 7,000 on land and about 10,000 in total, including naval forces. Most of the troops will be Norwegian, but contingents from Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the Unites States of America will also participate.
The purpose of Exercise JOVI25 is preserve and further develop tactical military skills and affiliated joint functions within the framework of Defence Plan Arctic Guard and the priorities of the Norwegian Chief of Defence. JOVI25 is a vigilance activity in the High North. It is in accordance with NATO's Concept for Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area.
The exercise encompasses preparations for and warfighting in a high-intensity scenario in demanding arctic cold weather climate. Furthermore, JOVI25 will focus on training and exercising the Norwegian force structure at the tactical level, facilitated by the joint operational level, hereby enhancing cross domain cooperation and interoperability.
JOVI25 will also facilitate for an effective use of allied forces under demanding climatic conditions as well as an effective transition from peace to crises to conflict and back to peace.
As stated, the exercise will remain below threshold level for every participation state, both individually and collectively. For the sake of transparency and risk reduction, Norway chooses to share information about the exercise. As a further measure of security and confidence building measure, Norway has invited Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia and the Republic of Serbia to a voluntary observation of the exercise. If any nations should require more information about the exercise, Norway will respond appropriately to all requests, reaffirming our commitment to the transparency obligations outlined in the Vienna Document.
Mr. Chair, thank you.