-I’m here because I’m against US bases in Norway, all twelve actually. This is stated by Kristine Mollø-Christensen, who was one of the around 150 protesters who gathered at Rygge on Saturday afternoon. Several associations had gathered outside Rygge Air Station, including the Anti-War initiative and international female women for peace and freedom. Photo: Heidi Gomnæs / news They demonstrated outside the abandoned civilian airport, just a few hundred meters away from the Armed Forces. -We believe these bases are a security risk for the population locally, but also throughout southern Norway, says Mollø-Christianen, who himself had made the trip from Oslo. – Makes us a bomb dock Rygge air station in Østfold is one of twelve so -called unified areas that the United States can use militarily. That is, US forces have unobstructed access and right to use the area. The protesters of several peace organizations require the US military bases to be removed immediately. – It does not give us more security and security. On the contrary, it makes us more prone to war, by having an American base on Rygge. This is stated by Lloyd Forbes, who heads the demonstration. He is also active in the peace march in Fredrikstad. One of the initiators of the demonstration, Lloyd Forbes. Photo: Heidi Gomnæs / news He wants to have increased awareness of the presence of Americans. – It can make us a bomb goal. And then we do not know if nuclear weapons will be deployed there. After all, it is an agreement that gives Americans all rights, so it is then American jurisdiction applies there. Then we do not know what is going on, and we want to mark that resistance to, says Forbes. Several political parties had also attended to say their opinion on the US base. Photo: Heidi Gomnæs / news What rights the Americans have on Norwegian soil appears in the supplementary agreement on defense cooperation with the United States (SDCA), which came into force in 2022. Facts on the Defense Agreement *The Storting in 2022 joined an additional agreement between Norway and the United States on defense cooperation. The agreement is called Supplementary Defense Cooperation Agreement (SDCA). *The agreement opened for US military forces to have unobstructed access and use of military areas on Norwegian soil. The use must be in line with Norwegian base, nuclear weapons and call policy. *In the original supplementary agreement there were four so -called unified areas. But last year, the Storting adopted a change in this agreement, which means that the unified areas increase to twelve. *The agreement gives Americans access to training, installation and deployment of strengths and materials as well as advance storage of equipment, supplies and materials. According to a special agreement, parts of a unified area can be set for exclusive rights of use for the United States. *The agreement also gives Americans the right to exercise authority or security measures – even to Norwegian citizens, in special cases. The government’s hearing note states that the United States has been entitled to the exercise of authority in Norwegian territory, a right that is limited to being able to “establish and perform security routines of practical importance for daily activity in a military area”. *The United States also has a right to prosecute US soldiers who may have committed criminal offenses on Norwegian soil, outside service. Defense Minister on the inspection on Friday, the Minister of Defense was at the Rygge flight station to check the facility and facilities. Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik Photo: news The air station is a current candidate when the Defense Alliance NATO is to establish a new joint Nordic air command center. The Americans will also increase their presence on Rygge when they are scheduled to invest NOK 2 billion at Rygge Air Station. One of NATO’s surveillance aircraft that has used Rygge as a base during exercises. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news The project is linked to the reception of American fighter aircraft and will also be important for NATO. The mayor of Moss, Simen Nord (H), believes it is important to help build a strong defense. He does not believe that getting an air operation center in the local area is something to fear. Mayor of Moss, Simen Nord Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news – I believe that the more important functions added to Rygge, the stronger the protection of Rygge will also be. I think it will also benefit those who live nearby. Protesters want debate about militarization head of the demonstration Lloyd Forbes believes Norwegian security needs are not the same as the American. – We want the US military bases to be discontinued immediately, and that we must return to what has been our base policy since 1949. Many attendance outside Rygge Air Station on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Heidi Gomnæs / news – and then we want Norway to sign the UN nuclear weapons ban, which they have not yet done. And then we want a general debate about the militarization of Norway, says Forbes. The parliamentary majority believes the agreement on unified areas does not violate the Norwegian base policy of 1949. Over 150 people were in the sun outside the flight station at Rygge in Moss municipality. Photo: Heidi Gomnæs / news Published 15.03.2025, at. 18.34
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