Norway faces major security challenges, urges Nordic digital infrastructure

Cecilie Hellestveit (NTNU) warns that Norway faces very extensive challenges to strengthen and secure societal security and calls for a common Nordic digital infrastructure.

• Main announcement/action: The article reports that E-tjenesten, PST and NSM presented 2026 threat assessments, and Hellestveit argues Norway must strengthen control over critical digital infrastructure and work toward a fellesnordisk digital infrastruktur (common Nordic digital infrastructure / “Nordic dome”) to protect democratic, welfare-state societies. The piece notes 2026 as a focal year (described as a total defence year in Norway).
• Background and details: The intelligence services increasingly highlight threats from state actors (notably Russia, and concerns about China, Iran, and others), with the digital domain and algorithmic control of information singled out as primary vulnerabilities; E-tjenesten’s language is described as unusually strong regarding sustained confrontation with Russia. The article references ongoing US-facilitated Ukraine–Russia negotiations, changes in EU and NATO, and reputational risks from the Epstein revelations affecting Norwegian institutions (royal house, Nobel Committee, peace mediation).