We too, when required

"The fact that we are talking about and focusing our attention on total defence and preparedness is in itself a sign that firstly, our understanding of the situation has improved and that secondly, we will be positioned to be prepared should the unthinkable happen," says Louise Dedichen.

“There is no war in Norway, but neither is there peace.” 

We have heard repeatedly in recent years that we are facing the most serious security policy situation since World War II. But when Louise Dedichen says so, people pay attention.  

As head of the Military Mission in Brussels and permanent representative to NATO's Military Committee, Louise Dedichen was Norway's eyes and ears on the ground from 2020 to 2024 in the defence alliance's innermost circles. There, the Vice Admiral, and Norway's highest-ranking female officer in history, got to experience first-hand the security policy changes seen over the past five years. 

"When I came to Brussels for my last term in 2020, people only talked about Afghanistan. That was the main concern. Today, hardly anyone mentions it. Afghanistan has become eclipsed by Ukraine, hybrid war, energy war, cyber operations and influence operations.” 

Dedichen believes it is important to recognize that Ukraine's liberation struggle is also a fight to preserve our peace. 

“Russia's full-scale invasion in the winter of 2022 represented the beginning of the end of a security landscape we had long taken for granted. We need to recognise that the war in Ukraine is essential to our security.” 

For everything we have. And everything we are 

“The future will require a great deal of all of us, to protect our values and our identity.  
And that is where the Norwegian total defence model comes into significant play.” 

In 2026, the whole of Norway is set to place total defence high on the agenda, through the Total Defence Year. The Government has declared a national boost to preparedness and defence capability, aiming at making society more resilient to crises and war. 

The Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB) and the Norwegian Armed Forces are spearheading the work, which is not just about military forces. It revolves around the interaction between the state, municipalities, businesses, volunteers and individuals. Through exercises, planning and cooperation, the goal is to secure critical societal functions, protect the population and be able to support the Armed Forces and allies if the very worst should happen. In simple terms, the Total Defence Year 2026 will test and strengthen the resilience of our entire society. 

There is no war in Norway, but neither is there peace. 

You must not sleep 

“The Total Defence Year is highly significant. Whilst we already observe that interest in security policy is increasing amongst the public, and that the focus on self-preparedness is sharper, further efforts are needed," says Dedichen. 

She comments that total defence thinking has experienced a renaissance within NATO and the EU. Both the alliance and the union have come through a realisation phase where questions have been raised as to how well prepared they are, and what is required in the future. 

She points to Finland as a country we can learn from when it comes to total defence and preparedness. 

“It is rooted in their history. They are used to fending for themselves, and total preparedness has always ranked high on the agenda.” 

In terms of what the future requires of us as a nation and as individuals, her list is lengthy:   

"The challenges are too great for one nation alone, which is why more international cooperation is needed. We must continue to be a stable NATO partner, and we must ensure that we are within the EU's plan to strengthen EU military capacity.  A large proportion of our wealth comes from the sea. This makes us vulnerable, as well as dependent upon solid allies. 

In Norway,” Dedichen continues, “money must be allocated to total defence, and we must not only understand but also be dedicated to actually strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation.” 

The Total Defence Year is highly significant. Whilst we already observe that interest in security policy is increasing amongst the public, and that the focus on self-preparedness is sharper, further efforts are needed.

Self-sufficiency is another aspect she highlights, explaining that we must work towards becoming as self-sufficient as possible because, as she says: 

“In war, trade agreements tend to work poorly.” 

We must also make clear demands of each other at an individual level: 

“Firstly, each and every one of us must accept the situation the world is in and understand that we all have a role to play in the total emergency preparedness situation. We cannot afford to be naïve, and we must be vigilant, particularly when it comes to influence campaigns.” 

The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) and the Norwegian Intelligence Service emphasised in their 2025 national threat assessments that Russian influence campaigns and sabotage are a growing threat to Norway. 
They write that complex threats, such as influence operations, can aim to damage the trust on which democracy is founded, and that this requires vigilance from all of us. 

Hope 

Whilst the security policy situation is demanding, Dedichen believes that there is a strong glimmer of hope: 

“We need to see the positivity in all of this. The fact that we are talking about and focusing on total defence and preparedness is a sign that our understanding of the situation has improved and that we will be positioned to be prepared if the unthinkable should happen.” 

Total Defence 

Total defence is a collective term for military defence and civil preparedness in the event of crisis. It hinges on mutual support and cooperation between the Armed Forces and civil society, and encompasses prevention, contingency planning, crisis management and consequence management. 

Havtil's Total Defence role 
Havtil has been assigned responsibility for civil protection within our area of authority. This means, inter alia, assisting the Armed Forces with situational awareness and risk assessment. 

Our task is to help ensure that the Armed Forces perform optimally in any situation affecting our sector. This applies not only to incident management, but also to the planning work. 

The military mission in Brussels 
The Military Mission in Brussels is the Norwegian Armed Forces' representative body at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. The Chief of the Military Mission is the Chief of Defence's highest representative to NATO and is a regular member of NATO's Military Committee, which is the defence alliance's highest military body. 

Read more Dialogue articles: