Wadephul: NATO’s northern flank needs to be better protected
In Norway and Finland, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul learns more about NATO’s defence capabilities.
Bodø/Helsinki (dpa) - In view of growing hybrid threats from Russia, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is calling for greater deterrence and defence efforts to be undertaken on NATO’s northern flank. “Russia is expanding its military presence here in the Arctic too and attempting to consolidate its influence in the region,” Wadephul warned at a meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide in the town of Bodø to the north of the Arctic Circle.
In the so-called High North and the Arctic, Russia has “capabilities that we must take seriously, also with respect to our security in Central Europe,” said Wadephul. He said that Norway had a key role to play here as “NATO’s early-warning sonar and radar in the North Atlantic”. He added that the undersea cables in the region, as well as the sea and air routes there, were crucial for supplying Germany and Europe. China is also stepping up its activities in the Arctic - partly in view of the mineral resources available there.
Following his visit to Norway, Wadephul travelled to Finland, which is likewise experiencing threats from Moscow. In Helsinki, the foreign minister plans to meet his counterpart Elina Valtonen for talks about civil defence, border protection measures and further support for Ukraine.
