JAKARTA - Norwegian politicians and fishermen have jointly rejected the country's military plan to build a shooting practice site off the Arctic coast, arguing it could disrupt local fisheries and would provoke Russia.
The Norwegian military is known to set up eight new shooting ranges and drills near the coast of the city of Finnmark, which borders Russia.
It is part of a national plan that involves the creation of 12 new firing ranges and the closure of 49 existing facilities. In total, there are more than 50,000 square kilometers of fjord and sea to be claimed by the Norwegian Armed Forces, according to national broadcaster NRK.
A temporary training site was previously established off the coast of Finnmark. However, as this was deemed time consuming to create, the military is now seeking to put a permanent facility in its place.
Furthermore, the entire northern coast has been cited as a military priority to assert national sovereignty and prevent a possible crisis. The Armed Forces said it plans to use the fields between two and 20 times a year.
This plan has met with opposition, as many believe it will provoke Russia and bring destruction to local fishermen, as some of the areas mentioned above are rich in salmon and other important fish.
"This is a plan that must stop. This is an area used by local residents and fishermen. It is also a militarization of marine areas in Eastern Finnmark that we have never seen before," Red Party lawmaker Geir Jørgensen told NRK, citing Sputnik News. November 11th.
Jørgensen also argued that shooting ranges would be a barrier to local fisheries, supported by local politicians.
Meanwhile, Helga Pedersen, the mayor of the town of Tana, affected by the plan, said she was not satisfied with the proposed shooting range off the coast of Finnmark.
"This makes it very unexpected for our fishermen who run their business in the fjord all year round", Helga Pedersen told NRK, emphasizing that the Tana Fjord, designated as one of the areas, is a national salmon breeding ground.
To note, Norway's centuries-old relations with Russia have been strained in recent years due to mutual build-ups, interception of military jets, accusations of spying and an overall louder tone, which undermined decades of partnership.
Including the planned deployment of US bombers in the country last February. Earlier in January, some 3,000 NATO troops arrived in Troms County for the Joint Viking winter exercise.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later emphasized the presence of foreign brigades in Norway, despite local law making the permanent presence of foreign militaries illegal.
However, the Labor Party, winner of the recent Norwegian elections, voiced hope for warmer relations with Russia.
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