Researcher
Karsten Friis
Contactinfo and files
Summary
Dr. Karsten Friis is a Research Professor in NUPIs Research group on security and defence.
His research area is security and defense policies in Europe, with an emphasis on NATO, the Nordic region, the Arctic, transatlantic relations, intelligence, cyber security and the Western Balkans. He has published and led several major projects on these topics. Friis is also a frequently used commentator in the public discourse - not least in relation to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Friis is a political scientist with a PhD from the University of Groningen, a Cand. Polit from the University of Oslo and an MSc from the London School of Economics. Friis has been associated with NUPI since 2007. Before that, he was a political adviser to the OSCE Mission to Serbia (2004 to 2007), the OSCE in Montenegro (2001) and in Kosovo (1999). Friis was also part of the EU's negotiating team for the referendum on independence in Montenegro in 2006. In addition, Friis has worked for several years in the Norwegian Armed Forces and served at NATO/KFOR in Kosovo.
Expertise
Education
2018 PhD, University of Groningen
1998 Cand Polit, Political Science, University of Oslo
1995 Master, International Relations, London School of Economics
Work Experience
2007- Senior Research Fellow/Senior Advisor/Advisor, NUPI
2004-2007 Political advisor for OSCE, Serbia/Montenegro
2001-2004 Advisor, the Norwegian Armed Forces
2000-2001 Political advisor, OSCE, Montenegro
1999-2000 Analyst/E-off, NATO/KFOR HQ, Kosovo
1999 OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission
Aktivitet
Filter
Clear all filtersResearch on friendships in the Arctic
Dealing with the challenge of political warfare in the COVID-19 and Ukraine war context (FLANKS 2)
This project will investigate how Nordic and Black Sea Region must be prepared to meet and deal with the challenges posed by political warfare....
Norway and Poland as actors in a changing security landscape (NORPOLFACTOR)
The aim of the project is to develop enhanced knowledge of the security-related challenges, risks and threats Poland and Norway face in their strategic environment in the aftermath of the Russian inva...
Security realities of freezing politics and thawing landscapes in the Arctic
Navigating Breakup: Security realities of freezing politics and thawing landscapes in the Arctic
Russia’s re-invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has had immediate and ongoing effects for Arctic security and cooperative governance at both a regional and international level. The region is impacted by the increased sanctions, the withdrawal of Western companies from Russia, the Western disconnect from energy dependencies, and has also witnessed an increase in hybrid security incidents. In addition, climate change continues at to change the environment at a staggering pace in the north. This report is an input to the Arctic Security Roundtable (ASR) and the Munich Security Conference, February 2023. It provides insights into both established and novel drivers of change in Arctic and security governance. Chapters cover the impacts of climate change on the physical environment, human security and the Arctic region’s military operational environment, and review the regional security policies of the three major powers (USA, China and Russia). The report argues leaders must continue to address Arctic governance challenges and take concrete steps to mitigate and manage risks, regardless of the cessation of cooperation with Russia and the radical uncertainty shaping the broader political environment.
A Governance and Risk Inventory for a Changing Arctic
Background Paper for the Arctic Security Roundtable at the Munich Security Conference 2020
How the war in Ukraine has changed the security situation in the Black Sea and the High North
How has the Russian aggression against Ukraine launched in February 2022 changed perceptions of security in the Black Sea region and in the High North?
The Ukraine war and the NATO responses in the Baltic and the High North regions
24. mars møttes NATOs regjeringssjefer i Brussel. for å diskutere krigen i Ukraina. Seniorforsker Karsten Friis snakker i denne podkasten, som er spilt inn et par dager før møtet, med NATO-general General Jörg Vollmer (Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum) og generalløytnant Yngve Odlo (sjef for Forsvarets operative hovedkvarter) om utfordringene Russland representerer i Baltikum og Nordområdene, og hvordan NATO og Norge best kan svare.
Hva betyr EU for sikkerheten i Europa?
(This debate is in Norwegian): I forbindelse med Russlands invasjon av Ukraina, har EU fått betydelig anerkjennelse for sine omfattende og resolutte bidrag, ved siden av et NATO som hverken vil eller kan handle militært. Våpenhjelp, sanksjoner og flyktning-koordinering er bare tre stikkord. Thorbjørn Jagland mener at grunnlaget for fred i Europa i tiden som kommer langt på vei vil bli bestemt i relasjonene mellom EU og NATO, mens seniorforsker Karsten Friis ved NUPI sier at EU er på vei til å seile opp som et vel så viktig sikkerhetspolitisk fellesskap som NATO, gitt trusselbildet som hacking, oppkjøp, spionasje og teknologi. Ja, hva kommer EU til å bety for sikkerheten i Europa, sett i et utvidet sikkerhetsperspektiv? Og – hva vil det kunne bety for Norge?
The Military Power Seminar 2022 – Northern-Europe in a changing security landscape
What are the consequences of the changing security landscape for security in the north? At this year’s Military Power Seminar, we invite you to a debate on the important political issues related to security in Norway’s immediate neighbourhood.