Thord Are Iversen
Military and defense issues, as seen from NATOs northern flank.
Special interest: The Russian Navy.
Independent Defense Analyst, all analysis and opinions are my own
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- The Norwegian Government has unsurprisingly chosen South Korean as long range precision fire system for the Norwegian Army, a 19Bn NOK program. The core is 16 Chunmoo launchers and "a larger number of missiles, with three different ranges". www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/r...
- Reposted by Thord Are IversenHere comes the sun: After two months of polar night, the orangish-glowing 🌞 returns over the horizon seen from the windows of the Barents Observer newsroom in #Kirkenes 🇳🇴. Temperature this morning is -24°C.
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen🔺Baltic Sea activity - Breaking! It is likely Russian Navy Baltic Fleet forces commenced ASuW/ASW exercise activity in the south/central Baltic Sea, 29 January 2026 (for next 1-7 days). ⚠️Exercise activity likely to feature regional, & realistic possibility of strategic, air support.
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- I'm not fond of Rutte but, with a little goodwill, I think he is talking about an alternative European command structure and associated HQ's. As long as NATO is in existence, that would be duplication and the staff officers needed for an alternate structure probably don't exist, as they are in NATO.
- Reposted by Thord Are IversenThe Trump admin has indicated to Ukraine that US security guarantees are contingent on Kyiv first agreeing a peace deal that would likely involve ceding the Donbas region to Russia… Scoop with FT comrades @maxseddon.bsky.social @henryjfoy.ft.com @a-mackinnon.bsky.social
- Last night's Russian strike ops saw a larger Tu-22M3 contribution, with 12 missiles fired according to the Ukrainian AF. The % claimed intercepted of the Kh-22/32s is higher than usual, but then it seems they were targeting the Kyiv area with them, launch area reportedly Bryansk Oblast.
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- Kind of interesting that it's the French are the first to choose a harder approach. Seems the tanker in question is Grinch. If her AIS is correct this happened in the Western Mediterranean. www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
- The Nor Gov is working on a revision of the Defense Pledge and it looks like ambitions could be reduced to fit the original financial framework. CHOD seems to be onboard, except if Russia wins the war, warning of "castles in the air". Irresponsible I'd say. www.forsvaretsforum.no/eirik-kristo...
- It is very naive to think that the tensions over Greenland have been reduced, along with the threat it represents, after Trump's speech. Latching on to a single phrase, glossing over the rest of it, is sticking ones head in the sand. Hoping it just goes over isn't a strategy.
- The Danes are not naive. "This doesn't make the problem go away" says the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs. "The President's ambitions are still intact". nyheder.tv2.dk/live/2025-01...
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- The Greenland business might currently be overshadowing the war and Russia, but the potential impact of the former, as seen from a small country bordering Russia, can't be underestimated, and is even more serious due to the latter, which it can have a significant impact on as well.
- Royal Netherlands Navy confirms that the Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy is accompanying the tanker General Skobolev. The ships are returning to the Baltic.
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- Our timeline just keeps on giving.. A short while ago this scenario would have seemed over the top, even for a work of fiction.
- "Rutte even told Denmark on Monday to refrain from sending any more troops, a European official said." Rutte is kind of in an impossible situation here but Denmark can't back down, and the same goes for the rest of us supporting Denmark, regardless of where this is heading.
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- If anyone is wondering, my complete radio silence on the other site is due to login issues.
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- Kangerlussaq has the second longest runway on Greenland (2800m), the longest being at Pituffik Space Base, and was back in the day known as Sondrestrom Air Base (closed in 1992).
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- To remove any doubt, Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre has confirmed to VG that this indeed is real. It was received yesterday, as a response to a letter to Trump from Støre and Finnish President Stubb. www.vg.no/nyheter/i/q6...
- "Statement by Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom:"
- Reposted by Thord Are IversenMacron now refers to "intimidation or threat", explicitly comparing US behaviour in Greenland to Russia's approach to Ukraine. Sweden's PM says: "We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed". Much, tougher language from Europeans than we have seen before, responding to the US escalation.
- From yesterday, here in Kommersant. Peskov: "We proceed from the fact that Greenland is the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark" / "Мы исходим из того, что Гренландия является территорией Датского королевства" Must be amusing to watch this trainwreck from Moscow. www.kommersant.ru/doc/8360252
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- I don't have the capacity or energy to dive into this right now but, due to the Greenland business, there are a lot of not so good takes, "analysis" and newly formed opinions on northern latitude security issues floating around. Skepticism is very much required.
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- On Tuesday January 6th the Norwegian QRA identified a Tu-142 Bear-F, "in international airspace off the Norwegian coast". In their Facebook post, where the photos are from, the RNoAF also gives the QRA statistics for 2025: 41 scrambles identifying 53 aircraft.
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Aftenposten yesterday: "I assume that it actually won't happen", but: "The idea of NATO will be broken if the US takes Greenland" "It is difficult to see how the alliance will be able to withstand that" www.aftenposten.no/norge/politi...
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- I think Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre gave a good New Years speech this evening. A few excerpts here from the English version, link below:
- Still a couple of hours to go on my end but: Happy New Year everyone!
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Thord Are Iversen[Not loaded yet]
- Today is the big day in Norway so: Merry Christmas folks, wherever you might be! Despite the current state of the world, I hope you all manage to catch some rest over this holiday season.
