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The Cold War between Russia and the West is becoming more intense. Now send Norway tanks (pareizāk KKM CV9030– VB) from Telemark Battalion to the Russia’s nearest neighbor Latvia.

Formally, should the 190 Norwegian soldiers participate in an exercise. But the signal Norway and the rest of NATO sends to Vladimir Putin and Russia are not to be mistaken:  The flex military muscle not far from the Russian border.

– It is important to emphasize that this is an exercise. It is also a response to what NATO has asked its member countries, namely to secure allies by increased activity in the Baltics, says Defence Ine Eriksen Søreide (H) VG.

Russia has previously reacted grossly increased NATO activity in their vicinity. For example, the black with their own – and much more – exercises on their side of the border.

– Do you fear reactions from Russia?

– This is not a contribution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. For us it was important to respond to the desire of NATO to increase activity to help reassure allies. How else will react to it, they almost answer itself, says defense minister.

The exercise, which has not yet been named, is scheduled to last for almost two months, extending until the end of November.

In addition to Norway and Latvia, will also be several other NATO countries participate.

– USA has been in the area of soldiers for a while, as have neighboring countries in the Baltic region. I assume that several allies during the summit in Wales will signal that they will deploy forces to exercise, says defense minister.

Long Afghan experience
There are professional soldiers of mechanized infantry company 3 (Mek 3) at the end of September, heading from Rena against Latvia.

Several of the soldiers in the company have extensive experience in Afghanistan, where soldiers from the Telemark Battalion was stationed almost continuously for the past ten years.

The main weapon of Mek 3 is very flexible CV90 – tracked armored vehicles soldiers have used in several fierce battles in Afghanistan.

From spring 2015 the Telemark Battalion (TM bn) go into the NATO Response Force. This may mean that Norwegian soldiers on exercises and demonstrations of power along the Russian border to Europe can be a common sight.

– Telemark Battalion consists of highly skilled soldiers and officers who have extensive overseas experience. They are well trained and have repeatedly shown that they are able to solve a series of missions, says defense minister.

Far cooperation

The experienced soldiers from TM bn has also previously worked with Latvian forces. In Afghanistan, Norway and Latvia worked closely, both in camp and in the field.

– Latvia is a country we have worked closely and successfully with several years in Afghanistan, says Søreide.

She emphasizes that the Norwegian force in autumn sent to the Baltic States should not engage in regular military operations.

– It is important to emphasize that this is not a force that can be deployed in any operations. If Norwegian soldiers do that, we must through a lengthy process. This is an exercise that probably would inevitably occurred elsewhere within NATO if it had not been held in Latvia, she says.

The final framework for the exercise will probably be nailed down during the NATO summit in Wales next week – a summit that is described as one of the most exciting and crucial meetings throughout the alliance’s history.

It is during this meeting Jens Stoltenberg formally elected as the alliance’s new secretary general. And he starts top job with a sturdy Norwegian NATO contributions in the back.

– There has been a lot of exercise activities by vessels and aircraft in the Baltics lately, but little exercises with the armies. NATO has demanded more land forces, therefore we have a period considered whether we can contribute something that also gives us good exercise benefits. We think that we have got now, says Søreide.