Overview
- Norwegian defense minister Tore Sandvik says Russia has clustered nuclear warheads and attack submarines on the Kola Peninsula near NATO territory.
- Sandvik reports observed tests of hypersonic missiles, nuclear‑driven torpedoes and nuclear warheads in Arctic waters.
- He says Moscow seeks control of the Bear Gap and to deny NATO access to the GIUK Gap as part of its Bastion defense concept.
- Norway assesses the Northern Fleet as intact and growing, citing a new frigate and a multi‑role submarine added within the past two years.
- NATO partners are maintaining round‑the‑clock monitoring, the UK–Norway partnership is deepening, and Norway notes Russian surveillance vessels operating near European naval exercises.