Dialogue no 1 - 2026: Are we prepared?

The total defence concept was originally developed by the Norwegian government-in-exile in London during World War II. Today, it denotes the mutual support and cooperation between the Armed Forces and civil society in peace, crisis, armed conflict and war.  

In times of severe crisis or war, the Armed Forces and civil society must work together closely. The goal is to ensure that critical societal functions operate as normally as possible. Activities on the shelf and onshore petroleum facilities are a part of this. 

We can no longer take peace for granted. We must have faith that the unthinkable won´t happen, whilst building the resilience that might be needed. 

It means thinking through how we might be affected, as well as planning, practising and ensuring that we are able to handle various situations, also in times of crisis and war. 

In short: We must be prepared.

Articles from Dialogue no 1 - 2026: 

If the unthinkable should happen

The Total Defence Year 2026 will strengthen Norway's ability to prevent and manage security policy crises and war. "We must be prepared for the worst," says Havtil director Sigve Knudsen.

The threat assessment for Norwegian petroleum activities

The threat and risk assessments for 2026 paint a challenging picture of geopolitical tension, growing cyber threats and sustained interest in Norwegian energy infrastructure. This makes clear demands on the petroleum industry´s work on security and emergency preparedness.

Preparedness in their blood

In Finland, preparedness is not a plan. It is a way of shaping society. Join us in the country where cooperation between authorities and industry has turned crises into a driving force for innovation.

Founders arming up

In a former hospital in the heart of Helsinki, Finland has built one of Europe's most dynamic startup campuses. Here, technology communities are emerging at the intersection of research, industry and defence.

From bark beetles to NATO

Finnish company Kelluu was founded to monitor Finnish forests. Then Russia invaded Ukraine. Today, the company's unmanned airships are participating in Nato exercises across three countries in a single month.

Dual-purpose technology

At a time when both energy security and national security are under pressure, the so-called dual-use approach has become increasingly relevant. Oceaneering, which has been supplying subsea technology and services to the Norwegian continental shelf for years, is now also developing solutions for the defence sector.

Calls for a clear mineral strategy

Must we, should we, or can we permit ourselves to extract seabed minerals on the Norwegian continental shelf? Yes, says Professor Kåre Dahl Martinsen, who believes that security policy must play a far more significant role in the debate for or against mineral extraction.

New status for intervention

Intervention has traditionally been the "little brother" in drilling and well operations, for no obvious reason. This type of activity is both complex and important, with the potential for major incidents. The field is now receiving recognition.

The network beneath the waves

The development of subsea pipelines on the Norwegian Continental Shelf started as a direct consequence of the Ekofisk discovery in 1969. In order to produce at scale, oil and gas had to be transported safely and continuously to market, something which ships alone could not achieve.

Safe structures and robust material choices

On many of the facilities on the NCS, structural steel is the load-bearing element. The steel must withstand harsh environments, absorb the forces that affect it, distribute loads and cope with the wide variations in temperature, weather and operation that accompany a long service life offshore.