International Observers Follow Joint Viking
Did you know that international observers are following the winter exercise in Northern Norway? The goal is to show openness in today's tense security situation.
These days, 10,000 participants from nine NATO countries are taking part in the largest military exercise in Norway this year. Joint Viking is a defensive exercise where we train on defending Norway.
As the host country, Norway has several obligations to the rest of Europe, including informing about where, when, how, and how many are participating. This week, observers from Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have ensured that the exercise is carried out as Norway has stated.
Openness and Transparency
The reason for the visit is due to international agreements established after the Cold War.
"One of these is the Vienna Document, where observation is one of the obligations," explains Ragnhild Hustad, head of the Arms Control Office in the Norwegian Defence Staff.
Observers from Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are following the Joint Viking exercise. 
Observers from Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are following the Joint Viking exercise. 
Observers from Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are following the Joint Viking exercise. Ragnhild Hustad, head of the Arms Control Office in the Norwegian Defence Staff, in the middle. 
Observers from Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are following the Joint Viking exercise.
The Vienna Document is enforced by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The agreement obliges to invite and receive observers from OSCE countries if the exercise has more than 13,000 participants on land. Joint Viking has fewer than this, but Norway has still invited selected countries to observe the exercise.
"In today's security situation, Norway wants to be extra open and transparent about the exercise. We want to show that it is not threatening to anyone and to uphold arms control agreements for increased trust between OSCE member countries. We are aware of our responsibilities regarding these agreements," says Hustad.
Not Counting Weapons
The international observers do not lift tarps and tent covers to count weapons and equipment. Instead, they look at the overall exercise and verify that Joint Viking is conducted as Norway has reported in advance.
Hustad says that the observers are very satisfied so far. On Thursday, they were informed about the exercise by the Armed Forces' operational headquarters. They also received a tour of a British naval vessel and later visited the Home Guard and the Finnmark Land Command.
The observers have also visited training forces from Norway’s Brigade Nord, 2nd Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, Dutch forces, and the Norwegian Allied Training Centre.
