Norway Considers Building Border Fence with Russia Amid Migrant Concerns

After Finland now Norway is building a fence along its 198-kilometer (123-mile) border with Russia. Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl has shown interest in the idea. He emphasized the advantages of using sensors and technology to monitor movement near the border.

The Norwegian government is thinking about building a border fence due to concerns about Russia using migrants as part of “hybrid warfare,” a term used by Finland. Finland is already building fences along its border with Russia, covering up to 200 kilometers (124 miles). This area is part of NATO’s northern defense and the European Union’s external border. The goal is to improve border security and handle any future migrant crossings.

Norway’s only official border crossing with Russia, the Storskog station. It had noticed many illegal border crossings in recent years. Enger Mehl said the government is planning to create several ways to strengthen security in the Arctic region to stop this illegal border crossing. These include building fences along the borders, adding more border staff, and improving surveillance systems.

If Norway complete the fencing around border then it is all set to close the border at short notice if any emergency comes up. The urgency follows Finland’s decision to close all border crossings with Russia at the end of 2023, after more than 1,300 undocumented migrants entered Finland within three months just after the country joined NATO.

Enger Mehl visited Finland this year to observe the border control measures and analyse the situation. He said that similar approach as Finlan will be beneficial for Norway. This suggestion was also supported by police chief Ellen Katrine Hætta of Norway’s northern Finnmark county. The existing 200-meter (660-foot) long and 3.5-meter (12-foot) high fence at the Storskog station was erected in 2016 following an influx of 5,000 migrants crossing from Russia a year earlier. 

Norway is taking various steps to safeguard its borders and prevent any potential misuse of migration routes in between the upraising tensions in the region.