Madame Chair,
Norway fully supports the statement delivered by Denmark, including the condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the dedication to support Ukraine in its defence, but allow me to make a remark in my national capacity. I apologise for it being a little longer than normal.
In last week’s FSC, the Russian Federation claimed that Norway is ignoring International Humanitarian Law. Statements by representatives of the Norwegian Red Cross and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee was presented as proof of this. The interest of Russia in the opinions of Norwegian NGOs is noted and appreciated.
Let me first dwell a little on the role and history of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centres. They plan, task and supervise air operations in peace, crisis and conflict. They execute NATO’s Air Policing mission closely cooperating with Control and Reporting Centres, National Air Policing Centres and Quick Reaction Alert air units. They cover NATO’s entire European airspace and connected sensors allow them to monitor all up to 30,000 daily air movements in European NATO airspace. This is a system that allows NATO to control our own air assets to avoid incursion into other states airspace and react to investigate unclear or potentially unsafe situations in our own airspace.
NATO used to have ten CAOCs. Between 2008 and 2013 the number was reduced to two plus one deployable. During this period the defence spending of NATO countries was reduced, even with major stabilisation operations ongoing in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the same period, Russia's defence spending increased, linked to the invasion of Georgia in 2008, the modernisation efforts resulting from the experiences from that war, and the build-up to the invasion of Ukraine in 2014. It has continued to increase since, and sharply since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
As a result of Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2014, European NATO countries slowly began increasing their defence budgets. After the Russia's full-scale invasion, this increase has continued.
Russia's war of aggression also prompted Finland and Sweden to become NATO members. This increased the area where the alliance must deter and be prepared to defend. As a result of this, NATO reorganised its command structure. This includes the establishment of CAOC Bodø.
Madame Chair,
This brings me back to the Russian expressions of concern last week that the COAC in Bodø is a military installation so close to civilian areas that it could lead to a violation of humanitarian law.
The Norwegian government is of course aware of these concerns, which have been continuously assessed for as long as the city of Bodø and the air base have been next to each other – in fact since the first airfield was established in 1940. The proximity of the air base to the city has been assessed as sufficient several times.
A new assessment made in conjunction with the establishment of the CAOC confirms that this is still the case. This assessment was last confirmed by the government 22 October 2025 as a response to a question by one of the opposition parties in Parliament.
Thank you, Madame Chair.