New research project to strengthen Norway’s preparedness against hybrid threats in the Arctic
Sabotage, espionage, legal grey zones and great power rivalry have suddenly become part of Norway’s security landscape. How can Norway better protect itself against hybrid threats in its vast maritime areas? A new research project led by FNI Research Professors Øystein Jensen and Andreas Østhagen aims to find out.
The new project, Securing Norway’s Waters: Legal and Political Responses to Maritime Hybrid Threats in the Arctic (SecureSeas), has been awarded NOK 12 million (approximately USD 1.1 million) by the Research Council of Norway.
"Norway manages a maritime area eight times larger than its mainland territory, and much of it lies in the Arctic. The traditional lines between war and peace are becoming increasingly blurred," says Project Leader and FNI Research Professor Øystein Jensen.
"We need a better understanding of how these threats develop, and what tools Norway has at its disposal to address them."
"This project shows not only that our research is academically strong, but – more importantly – that it matters for society," says Andreas Østhagen, FNI Research Director Arctic and Ocean Politics and Research Professor at FNI.
Vulnerable seas and shifting security dynamics
Hybrid activity at sea can range from cyberattacks and disinformation to sabotage of critical infrastructure or unusual military exercises near Norwegian fisheries. It can also include intelligence-gathering under the guise of research or fishing, or economic pressure through illegal resource exploitation.
"Russia and China are constantly testing boundaries at sea," says Andreas Østhagen. "They use pressure and provocation to shift the balance of power, without crossing the threshold into open conflict. That makes it harder to interpret the situation and to know which legal and political tools Norway can use in response."
Law, geopolitics and national preparedness
SecureSeas will generate new knowledge in three main areas:
- how hybrid threats emerge and operate in Norwegian waters,
- how international law can be applied to address them, and
- how Norway and other coastal states are responding in practice.
A key goal is to strengthen the government’s ability to detect, understand and respond to new forms of hybrid activity, both by improving legal frameworks and by shaping more strategic policy responses.
"There are few legal clarifications in this field. The current law of the sea leaves many questions open. We will explore where the boundaries lie, and what room for manoeuvre Norway has," Jensen explains.
Broad collaboration – from coast guard to academia
The project is a collaboration between the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Nord University, The Arctic Institute, Hybrid CoE, and researchers from Japan, Finland and the United States. Norwegian partners include the Coast Guard, the Armed Forces’ Joint Headquarters, NHO Arctic, the Norwegian Fishermen’s Sales Organisation, the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and the Governor of Svalbard.
"By bringing together expertise from law, international politics, defence and industry, we aim to help Norway become better prepared for a more unpredictable security environment," says Østhagen.
The project will run for four years. From FNI, Øystein Jensen, Andreas Østhagen, Erdem Lamazhapov and Anne Kristin Jørgensen will participate.
(+47) 47480680
post@fni.no