Norway Defense Chief Flags Increased Tension in Svalbard Gap

By Ott Ummelas

Jan 21, 2026 (Bloomberg) –Norway’s defense minister said the strategic importance of the energy-rich nation’s polar archipelago is rising due to growing great-power rivalry in the Arctic.

The tension between Russia and the NATO alliance is moving from a sea corridor between Greenland, Iceland and the UK — known as the GIUK gap — toward the so-called Bear Gap, an area between the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and mainland Norway, Tore O. Sandvik said Wednesday in a meeting with international media in Oslo.

Read More: Norway’s Interests Align With US in Arctic, Defense Chief Says

Russia needs to control the area to have free access to the world’s oceans for its navy, while the NATO alliance doesn’t want Russia to control it, he said.

“The Bear Gap is getting more important because we have to follow submarines,” Sandvik said.

Still, Norway isn’t seeing more activity from Russia regarding Svalbard as the Kremlin is “really occupied in Ukraine.” He reiterated that Svalbard is a part of Norway and “will be defended.”

© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.

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