Norway is considering a significant security measure by potentially erecting a fence along its 198-kilometer border with Russia. This decision follows Finland’s recent construction of a similar fence along its own border with Russia.
Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl highlighted the strategic value of a border fence, explaining it would serve as a deterrent and offer valuable information through integrated sensors and technology. These capabilities could detect potential border crossings and provide real-time insights into activity near the border.
Norway is actively exploring various options to fortify its border security, including an increase in border personnel and heightened monitoring. While the Storskog border station, the sole official crossing point from Russia into Norway, has witnessed minimal illegal border crossings in recent years, the Norwegian government is prepared to close the border on short notice if the security situation in the Arctic deteriorates.
The minister’s decision is heavily influenced by Finland’s actions. This summer, she visited Finland to gain firsthand knowledge of their extensive border fence project, which spans the entirety of the 1,340-kilometer Finnish-Russian land border. Finland’s motivation stems from concerns about Russia employing migrants in what they refer to as “hybrid warfare.”
Finland’s fencing project, encompassing sections totaling up to 200 kilometers, is strategically located within the NATO northern flank and serves as the European Union’s external border. Finnish border officials emphasize the need for surveillance-equipped fences, particularly near crossing points, to effectively monitor and control potential migrant crossings from Russia. These advanced fences provide critical time for officials to respond to any attempted border breaches.
Inspired by Finland’s project, Enger Mehl believes a similar fence could be beneficial for Norway. This sentiment is shared by Police Chief Ellen Katrine Hætta of Norway’s northern Finnmark county. The potential fence could span all or a portion of the Norwegian-Russian border.
It’s important to note that the Storskog border station is currently surrounded by a 200-meter fence erected in 2016, a response to a surge in migrants and asylum-seekers crossing from Russia to Norway in 2015.
