‘Norway will be sending 60 new soldiers to Iraq in August to support the United States in the fight against IS. The mission should be stopped,’ SV says.
“Our assessment at present is that there is not such a high risk anymore and that we are considering withdrawing. We are down there to do a job and we do a very good job of stabilizing the region,” says Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen (H) to NRK.
The main mission is to train Iraqi security forces in the battle that is still going on against IS. The Norwegian contingent will train in the Anwar province and advise on the security forces.
Norway’s participation in the coalition was adopted in 2014. SV believes it is high time to wind down Norway’s contribution.
“We have always been opposed to sending Norwegian soldiers to the Middle East. Both because the situation is so unclear and because we believe that the main task of the defense is now to defend Norway, not be part of the USA’s various wars around the world,” says SV leader Audun Lysbakken.
The Defense Minister, on the other hand, points out that in a global world it is very difficult to isolate and fence oneself off from everything.
“The freedoms we take for granted – democracy, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, the right to live our lives – these are freedoms to fight for. That’s what we also are trying to implement in Iraq,” he says.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
