The Police Security Service (PST) is currently conducting an investigation after a classified correspondence was published by VG, leading to a formal complaint by the Chief of Defence's staff. The incident involved a letter sent from the former head of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Elisabeth Natvig, to the Ministry of Defence. The letter detailed that the Chief of Defence, Eirik Kristoffersen, intended to dissolve a new maritime operational force a month before the Defence Minister informed Parliament that everything was on track.

The publication of this letter is seen as a serious breach of Norwegian law regarding classified documents, according to the communications chief of the Defence. He emphasized that the military strives to be transparent about its operations, except for information that is security classified. The ramifications of this breach could lead to heightened scrutiny over the military’s operations and its handling of classified information, revealing underlying issues in communication within the Defence Ministry.

Previously, VG had reported multiple stories about delays in the establishment of the new maritime operational force before the summer, prompting the parliamentary inquiry into these delays. The situation underscores the tension between military transparency and the need to protect classified information, raising important questions about information governance and national security in Norway.