"Not Just the Armed Forces' Responsibility to Prepare for War"

The head of the Norwegian Armed Forces' Joint Headquarters (NJH), Lt. General Yngve Odlo, recently met the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) director, Elisabeth Aarsæther. That is reported by the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Now, civilian agencies must also have plans for a war situation, Odlo insists.

"Cooperation between the civilian and military sides is crucial to maintaining vital and critical societal functions and taking care of our citizens if war strikes. In most wars, including in Ukraine, the war came as a surprise, and it is too late to establish plans when the war is here, " the NJH chief points out.

"It is serious, and the cooperation between the civilian and military sides must be further intensified to ensure the best possible total defense. The collaboration meeting emphasized our need to prepare for the worst-case scenarios jointly," says Aarsæther.

The NJH and the DSB work closely together and will further develop the collaboration, particularly within planning exercises and work with plans.

"For us, it has been thought-provoking to see that our neighboring countries have taken the seriousness to heart to a significantly greater extent. In Sweden, brochures are sent to almost every household asking, "What if the war comes to your municipality?". The Norwegian authorities think that "we must not do this – it will scare people." But discussing what war could mean for Norway is important," said Knut Storberget, the head of the defense commission, during Øvelse Nord in Bodø this spring.

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