Minister, Norway shares a border of almost 200 kilometers with Russia. Four weeks ago you further raised the military warning level. How serious is the security situation?
Matthias Wysuwa
Political correspondent for northern Germany and Scandinavia based in Hamburg.
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The security situation across Europe has changed fundamentally in both the short and long term.
The situation is testing us all.
We are faced with a security situation that is more serious than it has been for decades, and of course the situation in the far north is of great importance to Norway.
We know that Russia is militarily conventionally weakened due to the heavy casualties in Ukraine, but they still have their Northern Fleet based in the Kola Peninsula.
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Less than 200 kilometers from the Norwegian border. . .
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and they have the capabilities to threaten the naval lines of communication between America and Europe, as well as all critical infrastructure underwater.
We increased our vigilance in December last year, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
We have taken many steps on both the civilian and military sides.
After the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, we took additional measures to secure our critical infrastructure.
They have about 9,000 kilometers of pipelines for the gas and oil industries.
Yes, the oil and gas sector is a huge industry for Norway and important for all of Europe.
Even more so now that Putin is using energy as leverage in this conflict.
Therefore, the industry has increased its gas supplies.
But we have also increased our presence in the North Sea.
The Coast Guard is there all the time.
We have surveillance planes deployed and F-35 fighters in the air.
Added to this is the presence of our allies in the North Sea.
But we don't just have to protect infrastructure in the sea - there are also industrial plants on land that are of great importance for Europe's gas supply.
Our home guard of the armed forces and the police are now securing them together.
Isn't it the case that in the past the focus wasn't so much on how vulnerable this infrastructure is?
The explosions of the pipelines in the Baltic Sea have caused a postponement.
But we've had a presence offshore before, and companies are doing a lot to monitor their infrastructure.
We have a new situation and have adjusted our activities.
Our infrastructure is now important for the whole of Europe.
Especially for Germany, Oslo is the largest gas supplier. How long did it take after the explosions before you got a call from Berlin?
We were immediately contacted, as well as by other allies who have offered their support and presence here.
NATO also reacted very quickly.
We greatly appreciate this commitment from our close allies.
We just have to realize that this protection will be necessary for a long period of time.
Even though we have our own capacities, it is important for us that our allies are present.
How well can you protect so much infrastructure in the sea?
We monitor foreign activities.
We have a good picture of what other countries are doing or not doing.
There is close cooperation between government agencies and companies.
When we are as present as we are now, it is very difficult for anyone to try anything.
A British aircraft carrier and several frigates, including a German one, are currently in the port of Oslo. Is that a signal to a possible saboteur like Moscow?
We have always wished for a good and stronger Allied presence in the North Sea, especially in the far north, but also further south.
This has now become even more important.
It is a signal to the rest of the world that we are united.
We'll get through this together.
We are prepared for whatever may come.