Norway deploys soldiers to guard Oslo sites

The Norwegian Armed Forces will assist police with guard duties at select locations in Oslo this summer, following a request from the National Police Directorate, Dagbladet reports.

Police Director Håkon Skulstad stated the measure was necessary to prevent police from deprioritizing prevention work and presence in vulnerable areas and among youth, as pressures from the Middle East conflict and the war in Ukraine have increased demands on police resources.

The military personnel, drawn from His Majesty The King’s Guard, will support Oslo police at sites including the U.S. embassy from June until mid-August. Defence press officer Brage Wiik-Hansen confirmed the deployment would not affect the guard’s daily tasks or national readiness.

Oslo’s governing mayor, Eirik Lae Solberg (Conservative), called the decision “extraordinary” and a “declaration of bankruptcy,” arguing the justice minister must ensure police have sufficient resources. “I cannot recall experiencing anything like this. There are fewer police officers working in Oslo today than five years ago,” Solberg stated.

Progress Party MP Jon Engen-Helgheim echoed the criticism, calling it a “clear admission” that the government cannot maintain security.

Skulstad acknowledged the unusual sight of soldiers guarding buildings in the capital but cited global tensions affecting Oslo, as in other Western capitals.

Dagbladet has requested comment from the Ministry of Justice but has not yet received a response.