Norway Between the “High North” and the Baltic Sea

Saxi discusses the contemporary Norwegian security and defense policy within a regional and contemporary historical perspective, with particular emphasis on the relative importance assigned to the North Atlantic and Arctic "High North" versus the Baltic Sea area. He argues that Norwegian security and defense policy is focused on deterrence and defense in the country's immediate vicinity. The Russian Federation is identified as the main source of regional insecurity. Furthermore, the Nordic-Baltic region is increasingly perceived as one interconnected strategic space, with the geopolitical fault-line between NATO and Russia running straight through the region.