Norway PM says country prepared, not afraid, of Russian threat

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says Norway is "prepared, but not afraid" of a potential Russian incursion, calling the threat "real" and urging NATO allies, including Canada, to monitor it closely. Støre made the comments in a CBC interview, citing NATO intelligence and recent incidents such as a German drone attack and a Bulgarian munitions fire. He welcomed Canada's bid to join the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a rapid-response group for crises below the Article 5 threshold. Norway and Canada, both Arctic states sharing a coastline with Russia, signed a strategic partnership in March. Støre highlighted submarine interoperability and Arctic surveillance as key areas for deeper cooperation, while also backing closer Canada-UK-Norway ties with the EU on space, minerals, and AI.