Norway Military Chief: War With Russia in 3 Years Possible

War between Russia and Norway could occur within three years, according to the NATO member's armed forces chief.

General Eirik Kristoffersen told Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet that the country only has a few years to develop the nation's defenses in the face of increasingly unpredictable Russia.

Kristoffersen added that Russia was building its weapons stockpiles much faster than NATO allies had anticipated.

"The current window of opportunity will remain open for a year or two, perhaps three, which is when we will have to invest even more in our defense," Kristoffersen told the newspaper.

"We do not know what will become of Russia in three years. We need to prepare a strong national defense to be able to meet an uncertain and unpredictable world."

Norway does not currently meet the alliance's requirement of spending 2% of GDP per year on defense, but is aiming to reach that goal by 2026, The Telegraph reported.

Kristoffersen's warning is the latest from Western leaders who say open conflict with Russia on the eastern flank is becoming the biggest security threat facing Europe.

NATO leaders worry that Russian President Vladimir Putin's apparent goal of expanding the former Russian empire could lead to attempted land grabs in countries — such as Finland, which joined NATO in April, and the Baltic states — that border Russia and its key ally Belarus.

During a press conference last week in Brussels, Adm. Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee, warned of a larger war with Russia and terror groups.

"I'm not saying it is going wrong tomorrow, but we have to realize it's not a given that we are in peace," Bauer said. "That's why we have the plans, that's why we are preparing for conflict with Russia and the terror groups if it comes to it."

Germany Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently warned that Russia could attack the NATO military alliance in less than a decade.

"We hear threats from the Kremlin almost every day ... so we have to take into account that Vladimir Putin might even attack a NATO country one day," Pistorius told German media outlet Der Tagesspiegel.

Sweden Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin and military commander-in-chief Gen Micael Byden this month warned that the country needed to prepare for war against Russia.

"We must realize how serious this situation is," Byden said, RBC Ukraine reported. "Look at the news from Ukraine and ask simple questions: if this happens here, am I prepared? What should I do? The more people who think, reflect, and prepare, the stronger our society."

Sweden's bid to join NATO is getting closer to receiving the required unanimous approval by the group's members. Only Hungary hasn't given the green light.

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