PST reports that military personnel mapping is being conducted ahead of a significant NATO exercise involving 25,000 soldiers from various countries, including Norway.
The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has confirmed that it is aware of specific observations made by the military regarding the mapping of military personnel ahead of an upcoming NATO exercise. Atle Tangen, head of counterintelligence at PST, indicated that there has been interest in exercise activities and developments, but clarified that not all observed incidents may be linked to Russian intelligence. This ambiguity poses challenges as some cases could remain unresolved.
The NATO exercise is set to host 25,000 soldiers from Norway and 13 other member countries, primarily taking place in northern Nordland and inner Troms. Of these, nearly 12,000 troops will be stationed on the ground in Norway, while others will train at sea and in the air, with some operations also occurring in a side-exercise in northern Finland. The United States has committed 4,000 soldiers to participate; however, this number may decrease as some American air units slated for training in northern Norway have been redirected to the Middle East, where ongoing conflicts involving the US and Israel against Iran are occurring.
As the exercise approaches, the PST continues to map vulnerabilities and assess potential threats related to military maneuvers in the region. The decision to conduct such large-scale exercises is indicative of NATO's ongoing commitment to collective defense strategies amidst heightened global security concerns, especially in light of current geopolitical tensions.
