Dear all. 

First of all, it is great to see you all here in Norway. And I am grateful for your contributions to this important conference. A conference that also marks the official opening of the National Counter-Drone Centre of Excellence.

We are facing the most serious security situation in decades. The threat landscape is increasingly complex. It is shaped by rapid technological change and heightened geopolitical tensions.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown us that peace and security cannot be taken for granted. It has reinforced the need for stronger preparedness and more decisive action. We need to boost our whole-of-society-approach, what we in Norway call our “total defence” effort. And we need to better prepare our society for crises and conflict.

Lessons from Ukraine show how technological innovation, especially drones and artificial intelligence, transforms modern conflict. We need to develop the technology, the skills and the capacity to respond effectively.

The Norwegian government’s National Security Strategy makes stronger national resilience a clear priority. We all need to better understand the threats we face. We must work together to reduce our vulnerabilities and strengthen our ability to respond to serious incidents.

Conferences like this are therefore important. They bring together national and international partners. They allow us to share knowledge and strengthen our ability to counter illegal drone activity. That makes us all more resilient.

Drones are becoming an increasingly important tool for the Norwegian police and other government agencies. They improve our situational awareness. They support search and rescue operations. They strengthen border surveillance. And they help us protect critical infrastructure, on land and along our extensive coastline. Drones also allow the police to cover large and remote areas more quickly and effectively. They help save lives.

The Norwegian government proposes to make a major investment in the digital transformation of the police – in total 5.7 billion Norwegian kroner over a five-year period. This digital transformation will also support faster and better sharing of data from drones – providing the police and other government agencies with timely and decision-relevant information. 

Better technology means better policing. It helps us use resources more effectively, improve security and tackle new forms of crime.

Most cases of illegal drone use in Norway involve irresponsible hobby pilots entering restricted areas. But it is vital that we are prepared for more serious threats. As we all know, drones can be used for unlawful intelligence gathering, sabotage, and other criminal acts. 

We take these threats seriously. And we are strengthening our ability to respond. That is why we decided to establish this national counter-drone centre of excellence to counter illegal drone activity. The centre will bring together knowledge, guidance and information on measures to reduce risks posed by illegal drone activity.

The Norwegian police is well placed to lead this work. It has strong expertise and capabilities. And it has a long tradition of cooperation and knowledge-sharing. We invite relevant authorities and organizations to contribute with their expertise, because this must be a cross-sector effort.

Broad cooperation is key to address the risks posed by drones. We need increased information-sharing across government. Between public and private actors, including the industry. And between civilian authorities and the Armed Forces. In this effort, I would like to emphasize that owners of critical infrastructure have a primary responsibility for ensuring the security of their own assets and operations.

The new centre will also be a valuable tool for strengthening cooperation. Sharing knowledge and expertise is essential to improving resilience and response capabilities. Shared understanding will also help us make better political decisions.

And this cannot stop at national borders. Technology is global. Threats cross borders. Our cooperation must do the same. We need to learn from one another, share best practices, and strengthen our common response. This is how we make our societies more resilient. And our people safer. 

I am confident that today’s conference and the new national competence centre will help us do just that.

With that, it is now my great pleasure to declare the Norwegian National Counter-Drone Centre of Excellence officially open.