The Norwegian government indicated on Monday that it would raise the readiness of its armed forces—a decision made in response to a series of incidents across the country interpreted as hostile actions by Russia.

Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced the move on Monday, claiming that it was a necessary step to address “the most serious security policy situation in the past several decades”—referring to an escalation of tensions with Russia amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Støre suggested that Russia’s setbacks on the ground in Ukraine had prompted it to “resort … to other means” of victory, including aggressive actions against Norway and other NATO nations. Although the prime minister expressed skepticism that the Kremlin would seek to directly attack Norway, a development that would likely lead to a war between Russia and NATO, he implied that it could still conduct covert anti-government operations inside the country.

Norwegian chief of defense Eirik Kristoffersen, who spoke alongside Støre, emphasized that the move allowed the military to reorganize its agenda in the coming months in order to improve its “operational ability and endurance.” He added that the escalated alert level would last for at least one year and could be further extended depending on conditions in 2023.

In the aftermath of the European Union’s sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Norway has emerged as a key supplier of oil and natural gas for much of northwestern Europe. Experts have warned that Moscow might attempt to damage Norwegian hydrocarbon infrastructure, further increasing the price of oil and gas and causing a supply shortage that could encourage those countries to lessen their sanctions on Russia. In particular, outside observers have highlighted a natural gas pipeline running from Norway to the United Kingdom as a target for attack, particularly in light of the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline transporting gas from Russia to Germany.

The Norwegian government’s move comes less than a week after the country’s security services arrested a Brazilian university researcher and accused him of spying for Russia. While the security services did not suggest that the man had gained access to sensitive information, they described his activities as an effort to collect “illegal intelligence” to funnel to Moscow, suggesting that it “may [have] damage[d] fundamental national interests” of Norway and its allies.

In recent weeks, Norway has arrested at least six Russian citizens over concerns that they had photographed sensitive government and military facilities—including the son of a Russian rail oligarch, who flew a camera-equipped drone from his yacht over the Faroe Islands in violation of Norwegian law.

Trevor Filseth is a current and foreign affairs writer for the National Interest.

Image: Reuters.