Russian Foreign Ministry: US INF Treaty in Norway will be the subject of special attention of the Russian Armed Forces
The United States has deployed a new launcher for intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in Norway. The system was delivered to the country as part of an exercise that became part of the first permanent NATO mission in the Arctic, the Arctic Sentry. It is aimed at protecting the region from the alleged threats from Russia and China. The Russian Foreign Ministry called this another step in an endless series of destabilizing actions. For more information, see the "Gazeta.Ru».
Russia regards the appearance in Europe of American complexes capable of launching intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles (INF) as "another step in an endless series of acutely destabilizing actions by NATO countries." This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.
"The intention of the North Atlantic bloc to acquire an extensive potential for launching missile strikes deep into our country's territory is being demonstratively emphasized. <...>
According to Zakharova, for those who made the decision to deploy the systems, it should not be a surprise that the locations of the American complexes and their management, as well as the infrastructure serving them, will be "the subject of special attention" from the strategic deterrence forces of the Russian Federation. According to her, this includes planning the combat use of shock weapons in the event of a military conflict.
Zakharova noted that such steps complicate the prospects for a dialogue between Russia and the United States on strategic stability. She stressed that the negotiations had not "stalled," but had been unilaterally interrupted by the administration of former US President Joe Biden. And although the United States is now talking about the possibility of multilateral contacts with the mandatory participation of China, Beijing does not intend to join such negotiations yet.
"Favorable conditions for a substantive and fruitful strategic dialogue with the United States have not been created. And steps such as the deployment of American ground—based INF missiles in Europe that threaten the Russian Federation, to put it mildly, "reset" the prerequisites for a constructive conversation with the United States," concluded the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
What is it about?
On September 3, the Pentagon published a photo of the unloading of a "container launcher" designed for the US Marine Corps from a C-17A Globemaster military transport aircraft. The caption to the picture stated that it was taken at an American military airfield in Trondheim, Norway.
"Judging by the footage, we are talking about the Mk 70, a ground—based launcher that can be used for medium and shorter-range missiles. <..The deployment of the Mk 70 in Norway is thus the second time that the United States has imported its new missile systems into Europe," Kommersant noted .
The United States delivered the Mk 70 to Norway as part of the Operation Atlantic City 26 trilateral exercise with the participation of the United Kingdom. The maneuvers were conducted from August 26 to September 4 and were part of the first permanent NATO mission in the Arctic, the Arctic Sentry. It is aimed at protecting the region from the alleged threats from Russia and China.
In addition, on September 7, Russian Ambassador to Oslo Nikolai Korchunov told Izvestia that at the end of August, Norway formed an artillery division as part of the Finnmark brigade in the province of the same name on the border with Russia. Four South Korean K9 self-propelled guns went on combat duty.
"Another 24 such installations will be transferred to the Finmark brigade by the end of 2028. By 2030, the Norwegian Armed Forces will receive 16 launchers of the South Korean K239 Chunmoo MLRS and missiles with a range of up to 500 km. <..The Northern Fleet and Russia's strategic facilities on the Kola Peninsula will be in range," the diplomat added.
Not only Norway
Pavel Anisimov, Deputy Director of the Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences at the Russian State University of Economics, noted in an interview with the publication that politically Norway seeks to turn Northern Europe into the most integrated military region of the continent. Not only Oslo is being armed, but also neighboring capitals. In February, the Swedish Air Force ordered Taurus long-range cruise missiles for its Gripen fighters. The media also wrote that the country is discussing the purchase of French MdCN sea-based missiles with a range of 1,400 km.
"Russia is actively increasing its long-range strike capabilities using cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as long-range drones. We need to create a more powerful deterrence capability for this threat," Swedish Defense Minister Pal Johnson said at the end of 2025, noting that Stockholm needs missiles capable of traveling up to 2,000 km.
Eva Vishnevskaya
