Moscow is building up its weapons stockpiles much faster than Nato allies had anticipated, creating a sense of urgency, the general said

Norway must ramp up defence spending in the face of a potential war with Russia within three years, the country’s armed forces chief has warned.

General Eirik Kristoffersen said in an interview with Dagbladet, a Norwegian newspaper, that time was running out to build up the nation’s defences in the face of an increasingly unpredictable Russia.

“The current window of opportunity will remain open for a year or two, perhaps three, which is when we will have to invest even more in our defence,” Gen Kristoffersen said in the interview, published on Sunday.

“We do not know what will become of Russia in three years. We need to prepare a strong national defence to be able to meet an uncertain and unpredictable world,” he added.

The Norwegian general said Moscow was building up its weapons stockpiles much faster than Nato allies had anticipated, adding to the sense of urgency.

  • agent_flounder@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    My first thought reading the headline is: I don’t see how Russia is building up a stockpile while burning through their stockpile it in Ukraine. That makes no sense whatsoever.

    Russia is also burning through bodies so I don’t see them being particularly able or willing to try to invade Norway or anywhere else anytime soon.

    It seems from all accounts they’ve got their hands full in Ukraine and are making little or no progress.

    I think you’re right about buying US weapons. I don’t think it is warmongering but rather shilling for the military industrial complex.

    Edit: still, I wouldn’t disarm or anything and maybe somewhat shore up defense. Maybe a decade or two Russia tries some more stupid shit.

    • HappycamperNZ@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      I would call a response prudent, especially with additional ties to Chinese manpower and the middle east playing up. Like it or not the whole world economy is linked to Chinas cheap manpower/goods and Middle East oil.

      Four years ago we didn’t think another global pandemic would happen, or a presidential cheeto would be done for insurrection (do it, not charged), or anything else of the last few years. Russia can still do something stupid that changes the course of human history.

    • HootinNHollerin@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      USSR went through 1.5 million soldiers defending Moscow and 20 million in WW2 iirc just to put their viewpoint on casualties in perspective

      • Terrasque@infosec.pub
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        9 months ago

        On occasion their strategy has been “if we send in enough people, they’ll eventually run out of bullets”

        They out-Zapp Brannigan’ed Zapp Brannigan. That should terrify you on multiple levels

    • realitista@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Russia is producing a lot. Yes, they are burning through more on the front line until now, but western support has ground to a near standstill in recent months, so it’s entirely plausible that they could continue fighting and start building up supplies if NATO can’t provide more weapons to Ukraine.