Russia has charged Norway with militarizing Svalbard, which they say breaches an international agreement. However, Norwegian officials have refuted this allegation, according to NRK.
Background
Earlier today, Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated that Norway is breaching the 2020 Svalbard Treaty, which declares the islands as a demilitarized area.
The Russian Ministry stated that Svalbard is becoming more integrated into Norway’s military and political strategies, with the participation of the U.S. and NATO.
The reason behind these remarks remains uncertain, however, several Norwegian politicians have recently advocated for bolstering the military presence in and around Svalbard.
Norway’s response
A representative from Norway’s Foreign Ministry restated that Svalbard is under Norwegian control and supports NATO.
“The Norwegian authorities clearly adhere to the terms of the Svalbard Treaty,” the statement read.
The Svalbard Treaty, signed on February 9, 1920, in Paris, gives Norway control over the islands but limits their usage for specific military activities.
Earlier, we mentioned that Norway might construct a barrier along its frontier with Russia to tackle an expected surge of asylum seekers coming over from the Russian territory.
