Editing Svalbard (section)

== Defense ==

Svalbard constitutes a [[demilitarized zone]], as the treaty prohibits the establishment of military installations on the islands. However, since the treaty recognizes Norway as the sovereign power in the archipelago, the country claims exclusive rights in the maritime zone around the islands; rights which Norway argues permit the [[Norwegian Coast Guard]] to conduct fishery and other maritime surveillance and enforcement in these waters.<ref name=treaty /><ref name="auto"/><!--All content is sourced in the first, secondary source, with the primary sources provided for the convenience of the reader--><ref>{{Cite web|title=Svalbard: NATO's Arctic 'Achilles' Heel' |url=https://perconcordiam.com/svalbard-natos-arctic-achilles-heel/ |website=Per Concordiam |last=Wither |first=James  |date=8 September 2021 |access-date=16 August 2023}}</ref> Certain other parties to the treaty (including Spain, Iceland and particularly Russia) argue that the Treaty provides them with extensive rights beyond Svalbard's territorial sea.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=The constrained politics of the Svalbard offshore area |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308597X08000171#! |journal=Marine Policy |last=Pedersen  |first=Torbjørn |date=November 2008 |volume=32 |issue=6 |pages=913–919 |doi=10.1016/j.marpol.2008.01.006 |bibcode=2008MarPo..32..913P |access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref> Norway claims an exclusive economic zone of more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers around Svalbard, though "Russia does not recognize Norwegian functional rights with respect to the Svalbard Fisheries Protection Area".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339623935 |title=KYSTVAKTEN – NORWEGIAN COAST GUARD |access-date=19 August 2023|date=January 2019 |website=Research Gate}}</ref>

In the 2020s, in order to strengthen Norway's ability to enforce its claims around the archipelago, the Norwegian Coast Guard embarked on a significant modernization program. As of 2023, the Coast Guard is replacing its older {{sclass|Nordkapp|offshore patrol vessel|1}}s with significantly larger ice-capable ships, each displacing just under 10,000 tonnes. The three new {{sclass|Jan Mayen|offshore patrol vessel|1}}s are armed with a {{cvt|57|mm}} main gun and are capable of operating up to two medium-sized helicopters. The ships have a maximum speed is {{convert|22|kn|lk=in}} with more than 60 days endurance and the complement is up to 100 people.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/norway-s-new-coast-guard-vessel-arrives-for-fitting-out-at-vard | title=Norway's New Coast Guard Vessel Arrives for Fitting Out at Vard }}</ref> The first ship, KV ''Jan Mayen'', was delivered in early 2023.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/norways-newest-coast-guard-vessel-ready-operations-high-north| title=Norway's Newest Coast Guard Vessel Ready for Operations in the High North | website=High North News |date=23 June 2023}}</ref> These vessels will complement {{ship|NoCGV|Svalbard}} which predominantly serves Svalbard and the surrounding waters. In 2023, Norway also announced the acquisition of six [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk#MH-60R|MH-60R helicopters]] which are to be initially deployed with the Coast Guard, though they are to be prepared to be equipped for anti-submarine operations as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://euro-sd.com/2023/03/news/30298/norway-to-replace-its-cancelled-nh90s-with-six-sikorsky-mh-60rs/|title=Norway to Replace its Cancelled NH90s with Six Sikorsky MH-60Rs |last=Felstead |first=Peter |access-date=5 June 2023|date=15 March 2023 |website=European Security and Defence}}</ref>
The Royal Norwegian Navy patrols waters of the Svalbard Archipelago at least once a year with a {{sclass|Fridtjof Nansen|frigate|1}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arctictoday.com/russia-complains-of-norwegian-navys-visit-to-svalbard/ |title=Russia complains of Norwegian navy's visit to Svalbard |work=Arctic Today |last=Nilsen |first=Thomas |date=15 November 2021 |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref>

The Royal Norwegian Air Force fleet of [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon]]s stationed at [[Evenes Air Station]] on the mainland have capacity for surveillance of the Svalbard Archipelago as part of the surveillance of the Barents Sea.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evenes |url=https://www.forsvaret.no/om-forsvaret/tjenestesteder/evenes |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=Forsvaret |language=nn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nilsen |first=Thomas |date=17 May 2022 |title=How Norway's new P-8 Poseidon will counter Russia's submarine threat in Arctic waters |url=https://www.arctictoday.com/how-norways-new-p-8-poseidon-will-counter-russias-submarine-threat-in-arctic-waters/ |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=ArcticToday |language=en-US}}</ref> The F-35s of the Royal Norwegian Air Force stationed at Evenes Air Station has range to patrol over parts of the Svalbard Archipelago, and could also be stationed further north at [[Banak Air Station]] if deemed necessary.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

With the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], tensions in the Arctic have increased. In January 2022, an undersea telecommunications cable connecting Svalbard with mainland Norway was damaged. Norwegian suspicions fell on a Russian trawler as the only vessel in the area at the time. The investigation was nevertheless reported as inconclusive. In 2022, Russia announced new investment plans to support its presence at [[Barentsburg]] and Pyramiden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/12/17/climate-change-arctic-00071169 |title=A Battle for the Arctic Is Underway. And the U.S. Is Already Behind. |last=Rosen |first=Kenneth |access-date=18 August 2023|date=17 December 2022 |website=Politico }}</ref>