European country tells residents it will seize all property if WW3 breaks out | World | News
Norway has sent thousands of “preparation requests” to citizens, warning them that the military may have to seize their property in the event of war with Russia. According to officials, the country faces “the most serious security policy since the Second World War.” The Norwegian military has sent letters with advance warning to those with assets that may need to be taken over to ensure access to defense resources. The claims policy, valid for a year, covers vehicles, boats, machinery and property, with around 13,500 “preparation claims” issued on Monday.
The army said: “The purpose of the requests is to ensure that the armed forces have access to the resources necessary for the defense of the country in the event of war.”
The letters did not come as much of a surprise to most recipients, as two-thirds were renewing claim notices from previous years.
Anders Jernberg, head of the army’s logistics organisation, said: “The importance of crisis and war preparedness has increased dramatically in recent years.
“Norway is experiencing the most serious security policy situation since the Second World War. Our society must be prepared for security policy crises and, in the worst case, war… We are making a major boost in military and civilian preparedness,” he added.
Norway shares a 123-mile-long land border with Russia, as well as a maritime border. Russia and China want to expand their presence in the Arctic region, where Norway plays a key role in NATO surveillance. Melting glaciers have led to a scramble to obtain new shipping routes and lucrative raw materials, and Russia is building former Soviet bases in the region as well as expanding its nuclear weapons stockpile.
Norwegian defense minister Tore O. Sandvik told The Telegraph: “Russia is building on the Kola peninsula, which has one of the largest nuclear warhead arsenals in the world. They [the nuclear weapons] “It’s being directed not just towards Norway, but towards the UK and across the pole towards Canada and the US.”
He added: “We are NATO’s eyes and ears in this region and we see them testing new weapons such as hypersonic missiles, nuclear guided torpedoes and nuclear warheads.”
While a full-scale war is unlikely, recent airspace violations and military incidents near the Norway-Russia border have increased tensions. Because Norway is a NATO member, any direct attack on the country would trigger the alliance’s collective defense obligations.
