From Burden Sharing to Burden Shifting: Adapting Norwegian Land Power
The Army Summit is an annual conference in Oslo held by the Norwegian Army and the Norwegian Atlantic Committee. At this event, the discussions are concentrated on security and defence, with emphasis on the development of land forces.
| Dato | Tid | Sted | Billetter |
|---|---|---|---|
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9. okt. 2025
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11:00
- 15:30
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// Norwegian text below
Who, When and Where
The participants range from Norwegian and allied military leaders, politicians, bureaucrats, academics, students, people working in the defence industry, and others who want to discuss and learn more about our collective security and safety.
This year, the Army Summit will take place on 9 October 2025 in Fanehallen at Akershus Fortress, Oslo. At a time when NATO has recently agreed to increase investments in defence and security to 5 percent of GDP – the war in Ukraine is raging into its fourth year, and there is a continuous uncertain and challenging security landscape in Europe and the Middle East – arenas like Army Summit are more important than ever.
The Agenda
This year, we will discuss what the increased investments mean for NATO and Norway, as well as the significance of the war in Ukraine for the development of today's and future land power. We will hear knowledgeable speakers discuss these topics, participate in interesting debates, and meet new and old acquaintances.
"Since 2009, Army Summit has been an annual meeting point for knowledge sharing about land power in a national and international context. I am particularly looking forward to bringing together allies and partners for meaningful discussions and learning from each other. Ukraine needs our long-lasting support and the Norwegian Army is therefore stepping up our effort to strengthen the Ukrainian combat power. Together, our support in the Norwegian Armed Forces makes a difference as part of Norway’s contribution to Ukraine", says Chief of the Norwegian Army, Major General Lars S. Lervik, and continues:
"The threat landscape is changing day by day. During the Army Summit we will probe deeper into what aspects of the nature of war remain constant, and what in the character of war changes, based on what we observe on the battlefield now. Land forces rely on innovative development, the right equipment, and a resilient will and capability to fight. How do we, in the Norwegian Army, incorporate this into growth in the long-term plan as we establish the Finnmark Brigade and Brigade South? What does this mean for our cooperation with our allies, and the support we provide to Ukraine? See you on 9 October."
More information
The conference starts at 11:00 and lasts until 15:30 Oslo time. Outside the venue there will be an equipment display from the Norwegian Army, and a barbeque buffet served by the organisation Veterans Meeting Veterans. This year’s award of respect, responsibility and courage, as well as the Norwegian Army’s innovation award, will be presented in a formal ceremony during the event.
Video recording of the conference will be available on the Norwegian Army’s social media channels afterwards. There will be around 100 open seats in the hall, so stay tuned for when the registration opens. Welcome!
Words from the Host
Army Summit is a cooperation between the Norwegian Army and the Norwegian Atlantic Committee. Kate Hansen Bundt, Secretary General of the Norwegian Atlantic Committee, will chair the first panel discussion. She says:
“At the NATO Summit in The Hague, all member states reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to strengthen the Alliance’s collective defence by pledging to invest 5 percent of GDP annually on defence and security by 2035. Over the next decade, Allies will commit to investments that cover the forces, capabilities, infrastructure, and improved resilience needed to meet the threats we face in a highly unpredictable security environment.
As Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues and the United States is expected to prioritise its strategic focus towards the Indo-Pacific region, Europe has pledged to assume greater responsibility for the continent’s security.
At this year’s Army Summit, we will discuss how “burden-shifting” will influence European security and discuss the role of Norwegian land power in strengthening the resilience and readiness of NATO’s northern flank.”
Keynote speakers
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The Norwegian Minister of Defence, Tore O. Sandvik, will open this year's Army Summit.
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Photo: The Norwegian Atlantic Committee Army Summit is a cooperation between the Norwegian Army and the Norwegian Atlantic Committee.
Chair of the first panel discussion: Kate Hansen Bundt, Secretary General, The Norwegian Atlantic Committee.
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Chair of the second panel discussion: "The war in Ukraine, innovation and development of land power"
Magnus Håkenstad, researcher, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. -
Keynote speech: Deputy Commanding General, Major General Christopher R. Norrie, United States Army, Europe-Africa.
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Katarzyna Zysk Katarzyna Zysk is Professor of International Relations and Contemporary History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies in Oslo, where she has also held leadership roles, including Deputy Director. She has over twenty years of experience in international security, defence and strategic studies (PhD 2006), with a focus on Russian military strategy, deterrence, naval power, Arctic security and emerging and disruptive technologies in defence innovation. She has been a visiting professor at Stanford, Oxford, the US Naval War College and Sciences Po, and is affiliated with the US Atlantic Council, the Center for a New American Security and Collegium Civitas in Warsaw. Her work is widely published in academic and international media.
Norsk versjon
Katarzyna Zysk er professor i internasjonale relasjoner og samtidshistorie ved Institutt for forsvarsstudier i Oslo, hvor hun også har hatt lederstillinger, blant annet som stedfortredende direktør. Hun har over tjue års erfaring innen internasjonal sikkerhets-, forsvars- og strategiske studier (PhD 2006), med forskning på russisk forsvar og militærstrategi, avskrekking, sjømakt, sikkerhet i Arktis og banebrytende teknologier i forsvarsinnovasjon. Hun har vært gjesteprofessor ved Stanford, Oxford, US Naval War College og Sciences Po, og er tilknyttet US Atlantic Council, Center for a New American Security og Collegium Civitas i Warszawa. Hennes arbeid er bredt publisert i akademiske kanaler og internasjonale medier.
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Lieutenant General Rolf Folland, Military Representative of Norway to NATO, will share the NATO-perspective on the support to Ukraine and innovation as a panelist in the third session of the programme.
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Colonel Tor Øystein Moen, Chief Army School Tactics and Operations, will participate in the panel discussion and share the Norwegian Army's latest news on innovation.
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L Lieutenant Audun Bentzrød, Executive officer (XO) Mechanised Infantry Coy 3 / Telemark Battalion will participate as a panelist in the third session of the programme, sharing his experience from supporting Ukraine through education and training of soldiers.
Programme
- 10:00–10:50: Registration outside the conference venue (please bring your ID). The static display of military equipment is open.
Program host: Niklas Wedø Johannessen, Conscript Representative of the Norwegian Army. - 11:00–12:15: Opening session: "From Burden Sharing to Burden Shifting: Adapting Norwegian Land Power".
- Opening piece by the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces.
- Opening speech by the Norwegian Minister of Defence, Tore O. Sandvik.
- Speech by Major General Lars S. Lervik, Chief of the Norwegian Army.
- Keynote speech: Deputy Commanding General, Major General Christopher R. Norrie, United States Army, Europe-Africa.
- Keynote speech: Professor Katarzyna Zysk, The Norwegian Institute of Defence Studies (NDUC)
- Chair of the panel discussion: Secretary General, The Norwegian Atlantic Committee, Kate Hansen Bundt.
- Panel discussion. Questions from the audience.
- 12:15–13:15: Lunch break.
Barbeque served by the organisation Veteran Meets Veteran. The static display of military equipment is open. - 13:15–13:45: Session II: The Norwegian Army's award for Respect, Responsibility, Courage and Innovation.
- Music by His Majesty the King's Guard's Band.
- Chief of the Norwegian Army, Major General Lars S. Lervik
- Command Sergeant Major of the Norwegian Army, Espen Tandstad.(This session will be held in Norwegian with English translation on the screen).
- 13:45–15:15: Session III: "Supporting Ukraine, innovation and developing of land power".
- Keynote speech: (updated information is coming soon)
- Chair of the panel discussion: Researcher, The Norwegian Institute of Defence Studies (NDUC), Magnus Håkenstad.
- Introductory words from the first panelist: Lieutenant General Rolf Folland, Military Representative of Norway to NATO.
- Introductory words from the second panelist: (updated information is coming soon).
- Introductory words from the third panelist: Lieutenant Audun Bentzrød, Executive officer (XO) Mechanised Infantry Coy 3 / Telemark Battalion, Brigade Nord
- Panel discussion. Questions from the audience.
- 15:15–15:30: Concluding words of Army Summit
Chief of the Norwegian Army, Major General, Lars S. Lervik.
Norsk versjon
Army Summit er en årlig konferanse som arrangeres hver høst i Oslo av Hæren og Den norske Atlanterhavskomité. Arrangementet handler om relevante sikkerhets- og forsvarspolitiske spørsmål med en spesiell vekt på forhold som er relevante for landstyrkene.
Deltakerne spenner fra norske og allierte militære ledere, politikere, byråkrater, akademikere, studenter, forsvarsindustri og andre som er opptatt av vår felles sikkerhet og trygghet.
Vi trenger arenaer for å diskutere og lære sammen, i en tid hvor NATO nylig har blitt enige om å øke investeringene innen forsvar og sikkerhet til 5 prosent av BNP, krigen i Ukraina raser på det fjerde året og det er et stadig mer usikkert og utfordrende sikkerhetsbilde i Europa og Midtøsten. På årets arrangement vil vi blant annet diskutere hva de økte investeringene betyr for NATO og Norge, samt hvilken betydning krigen i Ukraina vil ha for utviklingen av dagens og fremtidens landmakt.
Under Army Summit 2025 får vi høre kunnskapsrike foredragsholdere fra inn- og utland diskutere dette, delta i interessante debatter om relevante spørsmål og samtale med nye og gamle kjente.
– Siden 2009 har Army Summit vært et årlig samlingspunkt for kunnskapsdeling om landmaktens utvikling i en nasjonal og internasjonal kontekst. Jeg ser spesielt frem til å samle allierte og samarbeidspartnere til meningsfylte diskusjoner, og lære av hverandre. Ukraina trenger vår kontinuerlige støtte, og i Hæren intensiverer derfor sin innsats for å styrke ukrainsk kampkraft. Samlet i Forsvaret utgjør støtten vår en forskjell som del av Norges bidrag, sier sjef Hæren, generalmajor Lars S. Lervik, og fortsetter:
– Trusselbildet endrer seg dag for dag, og under Army Summit skal vi blant annet komme nærmere inn på hva i krigens natur som står fast, og hva i krigens karakter som endrer seg ut fra det vi observerer på slagmarken nå. Landstyrkene er avhengig av innovativ utvikling, riktig utstyr og utholdende kampvilje og evne. Hvordan tar vi i Hæren dette inn i veksten i langtidsplanen når vi nå etablerer Finnmarksbrigaden og Brigade Sør? Hva betyr det for samarbeidet med våre allierte, og støtten vi gir til Ukraina? Vi ses 9. oktober, avrunder sjef Hæren.
Konferansen starter klokken 11.00 og varer til rundt 15,30. Utenfor Fanehallen vil det være et materielldisplay fra Hæren og grillservering av Veteran møter veteran. Årets pris for respekt, ansvar og mot (RAM-prisen) og Hærens innovasjonspris blir delt ut under en høytidelig seremoni under arrangementet. Det blir gjort videoopptak av konferansen for deling i Hærens kanaler i ettertid. Det vil være cirka100 åpne plasser i salen, så følg med når påmeldingen åpner.
Vel møtt!