Nordic nations embrace total defence as risk of war rises

More than 80 years after Norwegian resistance fighters sabotaged a Nazi weapons factory in Kongsberg during World War II, the quiet town is once again preparing for the worst.

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In the face of heightened global tensions and growing fears of Russian aggression, local authorities are taking serious steps to bolster defences.

The municipality, located 85km southwest of Oslo and home to 27,000 residents, is dusting off Cold War-era bomb shelters, installing new satellite communications systems, and coordinating closely with the military to support Western troop deployments in the event of conflict.

"The lesson we learned from Ukraine is that everybody pitched in," said Odd John Resser, Kongsberg's Emergency Planning Officer. "Breweries made Molotov cocktails, schools were moved to shelters, and weapons factories increased production."

Across the Nordic region, countries are embracing the concept of "total defence" — a strategy that mobilises the whole of society to defend against military and non-military threats. It reflects a growing belief that national resilience must go beyond just armed forces.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Western officials have accused Moscow of orchestrating a campaign of sabotage, cyber-attacks, and arson across Europe. As confidence in long-standing security alliances like NATO wavers, nations such as Norway are stepping up their self-reliance.

In May, Norway published its first-ever national security strategy, warning that the country now faces its most serious security situation since World War II. "After decades of peace," it declared, "a new era has begun for Norway and for Europe."