Norwegian generals have good reasons to hate Donald Trump. Former Chief of Defence (2005–2009) Sverre Diesen and former Chief of the Defence Staff (2005–2008) Arne Bård Dalhaug feel this particularly strongly.
Both have recently published articles and made statements that not only reveal advanced Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS), but which also clearly demonstrate a lack of understanding of what governs relations between the major powers, and a lack of judgement regarding the damage their statements may cause to Norway’s relationship with the US. Not least, it demonstrates a need to blame others for something for which they are, in reality, themselves to blame.
They bear a large share of the responsibility for an incredibly naïve security policy which, at the turn of the millennium, concluded that all future military challenges in Europe had been reduced to ‘crises and conflicts of limited scope and duration’, with the result that large parts (approx. 85 per cent) of the Norwegian defence forces were disbanded, and Norwegian security was, more or less in its entirety, entrusted to the US.
They defied warnings that no alliance guarantees are absolute at all times and in all situations, and they ignored the fact that a country unwilling to bear the costs of maintaining its own defence can hardly expect others to do so on its behalf. Together with the 169, they bear their share of the responsibility for the fact that conscription, the mobilisation defence force, the Norwegian Army and large parts of the Navy were virtually disbanded.
They bear a large share of the responsibility for the fact that we are now left defenceless, without an adequate defence, whilst at the same time we are, for all practical purposes, at war with our superpower neighbour on the other side of the Jakobselva. And they bear their share of the responsibility for Norway’s failure to fulfil its obligations under Article 3 of the NATO Treaty, which obliges member states to maintain their own defence capabilities.
It is neither Trump’s nor Putin’s fault that the Norwegian defence forces were dismantled. It is neither Trump’s nor Putin’s fault that it will take at least 10–15 years to rebuild them. Nor is it the fault of either Trump or Putin that, in the meantime, the security of the country and its population will be severely compromised. Alongside irresponsible politicians, the blame lies, amongst others, with the two generals mentioned above.
And with their ridicule and demonising characterisations of Donald Trump, they are not only demonstrating once again their lack of understanding of American security interests and international politics in general; they are making matters worse and damaging Norwegian-American relations even more than they already have.
Under the headline ‘Has Judas found his match?” in DN on 18 October., there is no limit to the characterisations that former Chief of Defence Sverre Diesen can bring himself to apply to the commander-in-chief of our most important ally’s armed forces. Here are a few highlights:
‘Judas sold himself for 30 pieces of silver. Donald Trump just wanted a few litres of diesel.’
“The bleaker the outlook becomes for the Republican Party, the deeper President Trump sinks, both politically and morally. No sooner do we think he has hit rock bottom than he sets new records in characterless stupidity.”
Furthermore, he refers to the USA as our so-called most important ally, the US Congress as ‘spineless yes-men’, the Trump administration as a ‘mafia cartel of servile loyalists’, the US as an ‘American rogue state’ and, finally, Defence Minister Hegseth as ‘a substandard defence minister’. He has previously described the US under Trump as a ‘neo-fascist banana republic’.
This is being stated in full public view by a former Norwegian Chief of Defence and current senior researcher and civil servant at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment – as if the US Embassy in Oslo were not reporting this back to the State Department, the Pentagon and the White House!?
Diesen then makes an interesting remark that once again exposes his failure to understand that, when it comes down to it, it is realpolitik and the pursuit of national interests that govern the superpowers’ relations with other countries, including their alliance policies. He writes:
‘It is this US administration that we trust to come to our aid should the Russians choose the Nordic-Baltic region the next time they seek to expand their sphere of influence. In light of the events of recent weeks, this appears more and more like blue-eyed naivety.”
This statement is pure sophistry and an attempt to shirk responsibility for having dismantled our own defence on the grounds that the US would come to our aid. Yes, it exposes a ‘naive optimism’. A superpower will come to the aid of an ally if it sees fit to do so – and provided that the ally is willing to shoulder its share of the defence burden. But that is something we have known for a long time. This is what we have been warned about since the turn of the millennium. This is not something that has come to light ‘in the light of the events of recent weeks’, as Diesen is trying to portray it.
One might question Diesen’s judgement, but he cannot be accused of lacking the gift of audacity.
The former Chief of the Defence Staff, Arne Bård Dalhaug, is somewhat more moderate in his characterisations, but reveals the same naïve notions about the power politics of great powers. Whilst Diesen enjoys a second career as a senior researcher and the ‘seventh father’ at FFI, Dalhaug has become a senior adviser to the Norwegian Atlantic Committee. Dalhaug also has a great deal to defend – and to explain away.
In an article in Nettavisen on 1 November. he is concerned about what Trump will do if the Republicans lose their majority in Congress, and believes that Trump ‘in the worst “Trumpian” manner will rage on until 20 January 2029”, and that, particularly in the areas of foreign and defence policy, “he could, to a considerable extent, continue to wreak havoc with NATO, friends and allies, and heap praise on Putin to the skies.”
Dalhaug’s reflections on the danger that Trump will support Russian counter-demands for European security guarantees in peace negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine, and his concern about the withdrawal of US forces from Europe, are understandable, but, like Diesen, he reveals a naïve belief that it is values, and not interests, that govern the reality of realpolitik when it comes to Norwegian and European security.
We must, first and foremost, take responsibility for our own security. It is good to have strong allies. An international legal order is also nice to have. But when it comes down to it, it is power that prevails.
We do not need generals who still fail to grasp this. They are still living in a fantasy world of illusions and excuses. This is the most fundamental insight in political science, dating back to long before Machiavelli wrote about it nearly 500 years ago.
We do not need generals who are incapable of admitting mistakes and who are unable to learn from their own experience. And we certainly do not need retired generals who contribute to damaging our relationship with our most important allies.
