Norway is considering erecting a fence along part or all of the 198 kilometer (123 mile) border the Nordic country shares with Russia, a government minister has said.
The announcement comes amid growing geopolitical tensions due to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
According to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, the plan is inspired by a similar project in neighboring Finland.
Norway’s justice minister, Emilie Enger Mehl, told NRK: “A border fence is very interesting, not only because it can act as a deterrent but also because it contains sensors and technology that allow you to detect if people are moving close to the border.”
During the 2015 migrant crisis, when a record 1.3 million people applied for asylum in European Union member states, Norway and Switzerland, thousands of illegal migrants attempted to enter Norway from Russian territory, causing logistical and security challenges.
The Storskog border station, located in the eastern Norwegian province of Finnmark, is the only legal crossing point into Norway from Russia.
According to Enger Mehl, plans include putting up a fence, increasing the number of border guards, and stepping up monitoring along part or all of the border.
Since last year, similar border measures have been introduced by Poland, Finland and Baltic states, which accuse Moscow-allied Belarus and Russia of waging a “hybrid war” against them.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Finland is building fences with a total length of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) along its border with Russia.
According to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, the plan is inspired by a similar project in neighboring Finland.
Norway’s justice minister, Emilie Enger Mehl, told NRK: “A border fence is very interesting, not only because it can act as a deterrent but also because it contains sensors and technology that allow you to detect if people are moving close to the border.”
During the 2015 migrant crisis, when a record 1.3 million people applied for asylum in European Union member states, Norway and Switzerland, thousands of illegal migrants attempted to enter Norway from Russian territory, causing logistical and security challenges.
The Storskog border station, located in the eastern Norwegian province of Finnmark, is the only legal crossing point into Norway from Russia.
According to Enger Mehl, plans include putting up a fence, increasing the number of border guards, and stepping up monitoring along part or all of the border.
Since last year, similar border measures have been introduced by Poland, Finland and Baltic states, which accuse Moscow-allied Belarus and Russia of waging a “hybrid war” against them.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Finland is building fences with a total length of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) along its border with Russia.
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