Norway – Russia is back with another baseless accusation, this time claiming Norway is militarizing the Svalbard archipelago. Unsurprisingly, Norway has dismissed the claim outright after Moscow summoned the Norwegian ambassador on Friday.
“Moscow called on the Norwegian side to renounce any activity that undermines the international legal foundations of the archipelago’s regime,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry declared, in what appears to be another attempt to stir tension in the Arctic.
Russia warned that any such activity could escalate conflict in Spitsbergen, the largest island in Svalbard. But Norway wasn’t having it.
“Svalbard is part of Norway and part of NATO. Norwegian authorities obviously act in accordance with the Svalbard Treaty,” Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mathias Rongved told NTB, shutting down Moscow’s claims.
Svalbard sits in a unique position, roughly halfway between the North Pole and mainland Europe. The 1920 Svalbard Treaty gives Norway sovereignty while allowing citizens of signatory countries to settle there freely. While military restrictions exist, the area is not a demilitarized zone—something Russia conveniently ignores in its latest accusations.
There are two Russian settlements on Svalbard—Barentsburg and Pyramiden—with around 340 Russian residents among the archipelago’s total population of 2,945. Despite this, Moscow continues to push the narrative that Norway is increasing NATO presence in the region.
Norway, as NATO’s Arctic watchdog, is responsible for monitoring a massive 2 million square kilometer expanse of the North Atlantic, which also happens to include waters crucial to Russia’s northern fleet of nuclear submarines. This fact alone explains why Moscow keeps throwing out these accusations.
Russia has a history of making similar claims, but this latest outcry seems more like political theater than a legitimate concern. Norway remains firm: Svalbard is Norwegian territory, and Russia’s attempts to frame it otherwise won’t change that.