More positive toward NATO practicing in Norway

Trident Juncture 2018.Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB scanpix

Norwegians become more positive toward NATO countries practising in Norway

Most people have become more positive to allied exercises in Norway during the two-week NATO exercise, Trident Juncture, which ended on Wednesday.

 

Exercise leader, James G. Foggo and Defence Manager, Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, thanked the troops on Wednesday for the efforts of the Trident Juncture during an exhibition at Værnes military airport.

The defence chief referred at Værnes to a recent survey conducted by Kantar TNS, showing that Norwegians have become more positive to both NATO and the Armed Forces in connection with the exercise.

“I think this is largely due to the professional behaviour of the soldiers which has been shown during the exercise. In addition, I see that there has been a lot of positive contact between soldiers and the people. I am grateful for that,” said Bruun-Hanssen to the soldiers in attendance.

The survey also indicated that the population has got a better impression of the Armed Forces and NATO. 64% of respondents answered that they have a positive impression of the Armed Forces, which is 4% higher than the result of a similar survey from the Armed Forces at the end of August/September.

A total of 69% have a positive overall impression of NATO, which is 5% higher than two months ago. 68% say they are positive to Allied training in Norway, compared to 65% before the exercise.

More than 50,000 soldiers from 30 countries have participated in what has been NATO’s greatest military exercise since the end of the Cold War. The purpose of the exercise has been to train collective defence and relocation of large military forces in difficult weather conditions.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today