STAVANGER, Norway – The Norwegian Chief of Defence, General Eirik Kristoffersen, paid a visit to NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
General Kristoffersen attended an office call with Major General Piotr Malinowski, Commander JWC, and Brigadier General Mark A. Cunningham, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, and received the JWC mission brief focusing on the Centre’s current programme of work.
The General then met with the Norwegian contingent serving at the JWC and held a short discussion and Q&A session.
During his visit, General Kristoffersen also had the opportunity to observe the joint exercise control (EXCON) organization for the Norwegian-led and United Kingdom-led exercises NORDIC RESPONSE 2024 and JOINT WARRIOR 2024 respectively, and engaged with their EXCON teams.
NORDIC RESPONSE 2024 is one of many national exercises taking place this year under Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2024 (STDE24) – NATO’s largest exercise in decades, which involves over 90,000 troops from all 31 NATO members and invitee Sweden.
NORDIC RESPONSE 2024 aims to bolster the deterrence and defence capabilities of the Nordic Region and NATO’s northern flank per se. It involves 20,000 soldiers from 13 countries, including Finland, Germany, Sweden, the UK, and the USA, along with several civilian organizations in Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
With Sweden poised to become the 32nd member of the Alliance following Finland’s membership last year, Exercise NORDIC RESPONSE 2024 demonstrates Allied forces’ solidarity, capabilities, and collective resolve in the defence of the Nordic Region within the framework of NATO.
I am very pleased with today’s visit to the Joint Warfare Centre, which is NATO’s transformational hub in Norway that connects multi-domain training and warfare development, ensuring NATO is fit for the future.
– General Eirik Kristoffersen
General Kristoffersen said that the visit to the JWC underscored the strong cooperation between the Norwegian Armed Forces and the NATO Alliance.
“I am very pleased with today’s visit to the Joint Warfare Centre, which is NATO’s transformational hub in Norway that connects multi-domain training and warfare development, ensuring NATO is fit for the future.”
The General added: “NATO is the cornerstone of Norway’s security. NORDIC RESPONSE is vital for us to ensure our preparedness to counter threats today and in the future. It will strengthen our total defence cooperation in the Nordic countries as well as our partnership with our NATO Allies and partners.”
General Kristoffersen took over as Chief of Defence of Norway on August 17, 2020. Prior to his current position, General Kristoffersen was Chief of the Army.
