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Researcher

Karsten Friis

Research Professor
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Contactinfo and files

kf@nupi.no
(+47) 95 29 34 16
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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

  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • The EU
  • United Nations

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

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Research Project
2024 - 2027 (Ongoing)

Politics and Security in the Arctic (POPSARC)

At a time marked by major international turbulence – war in Europe, the breakdown of established diplomatic fora, the entry of new actors and stakeholders – there is an urgent need for also understand...

  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • Regional integration
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • The Arctic
  • The Nordic countries
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • Regional integration
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • The Arctic
  • The Nordic countries
  • Governance
  • International organizations
Publications
Publications
Scientific article

The defence of northern Europe: new opportunities, significant challenges

With Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the Nordics will be united for the first time in a military alliance encompassing not only northern Europe but also the broader transatlantic region. It will eventually fortify northern European security, but several obstacles must be overcome first. NATO has done a formidable job since 2014 in updating its defence plans, cumulating in the Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area (DDA) family of plans approved in Vilnius 2023. Now Finland and Sweden need to be incorporated into these plans. A more challenging task is to implement NATO's New Force Model which is tremendously ambitious. Finland and Sweden's contributions will be important, but new investments must be made. NATO's Command Structure is yet to be fully reformed and fitted to the DDA. Joint Force Command Norfolk must urgently be staffed, without undue politicization in NATO. Nordic defence buildup can draw on regional cooperation in particular in five areas: in strengthening the area's command design through functional double-hatted headquarters; developing close air power cooperation through e.g. a Combined Joint Air Operations Centre; strengthening total defence cooperation across borders and expanding logistical infrastructure; establishing joint intelligence task forces; and joint training and exercises. The contributions of the United States and United Kingdom are indispensable when it comes to upholding the alliance's guarantee in northern Europe. The recent signing of Defense Cooperation Agreements between the US and the Nordics reinforces this—together with an increased presence of air and naval assets in the region. The same applies to the UK and the Joint Expeditionary Force which now has shifted its focus towards northern Europe. This engagement is a crucial addition to Nordic and NATO plans and activities in a period when growth in Nordic defence structures is occurring at a relatively slow pace. Only after the weaknesses and hurdles are addressed will the deterrence and defence of the region attain a fully credible level.

  • Defence
  • NATO
  • Europe
  • North America
  • The Nordic countries
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  • Defence
  • NATO
  • Europe
  • North America
  • The Nordic countries
Articles
News
Articles
News

Rethink territory: How Ukraine can redefine victory

Victory can be achieved in steps or dimensions, such as a vibrant democracy, a growing economy, societal welfare, as well as territorial liberation, writes Karsten Friis.
  • Defence and security
  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • Conflict
Hvorfor er vi redde for Huawei?
Podcast

Hvorfor er vi redde for Huawei?

Har du sett tallet 5 og bokstaven G poppe opp øverst på mobilen din i det siste? Episode to av Utenrikshospitalet ser sammen med seniorforsker Kar...

  • Security policy
  • Cyber
  • Intelligence
  • Security policy
  • Cyber
  • Intelligence
Angst i Athen: En forskerspires frykt for å feile
Podcast

Angst i Athen: En forskerspires frykt for å feile

Møt Claudia Aanonsen, doktorgradsstipendiat ved NUPI, som for første gang skal delta på en internasjonal forskerkonferanse. Hun gruer seg, og er e...

Hvordan avgjøres krigen i Ukraina?
Podcast

Hvordan avgjøres krigen i Ukraina?

Ett år har gått siden Russland angrep Ukraina. Hva har skjedd? Og hva tror vi vil skje videre? Krigen avgjøres heller ikke bare på slagmarken. Hvo...

  • Security policy
  • Foreign policy
  • Conflict
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • Security policy
  • Foreign policy
  • Conflict
  • Governance
  • International organizations
Publications
Publications
Scientific article

Digitalisering og internasjonal politikk

Hvilke sikkerhetspolitiske valg og dilemmaer representerer den nye digitale hverdagen for Norge og resten av verden? Kampen for å påvirke hvordan internett skal fungere er godt i gang. Utbyggingen av 5G-nettverk har blitt en global dragkamp der land presser hverandre til å velge bort bestemte leverandører, og private selskaper i den digitale sektoren får stadig større økonomisk og politisk makt. Internasjonale aktører som FN og NATO strever med å finne sin plass i det nye landskapet. I FN pågår det en intens strid om hvilke internasjonale normer som skal gjelde i det digitale rom, og NATO har definert cyber som et eget domene på linje med land, luft og sjø. Alt dette tilsier at digitalisering vil være med på å definere internasjonale konfliktlinjer i lang tid fremover. Men hvordan? I denne boken samler Håkon Bergsjø og Karsten Friis ulike perspektiver fra ledende fagmiljøer på hvordan digitalisering påvirker internasjonal politikk og konfliktdynamikk.

  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • Intelligence
  • Conflict
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • United Nations
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  • Defence
  • Security policy
  • NATO
  • Cyber
  • Intelligence
  • Conflict
  • Governance
  • International organizations
  • United Nations
Publications
Publications
Scientific article

Introduction. Focus: War and Research

Russia’s attack on Ukraine on February 24 came as a surprise to many observers. This triggered several debates in the media, where analysts and academics criticized each other for not having seen what was emerging; for showing too much understanding for the Putin regime positions; and to let their political attitudes colour their analyses. In this Fokus column we will try to elevate these discussions to an academic level. Not to allocate blame, but to learn professional lessons. In this introductory text I will, inter alia, point to the need for more analytical breadth, to focus on both language and materiality, and to be extra aware of your own attitudes when one moves into a normative political debate.

  • Defence
  • Diplomacy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
IP804.PNG
  • Defence
  • Diplomacy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
Publications
Publications
Chapter

NATO and Transatlantic Security Relations

NATO is considered the most important institution in the transatlantic security relationship. Its history is marked by continuity, resilience, and deliberate adaptation to an ever-changing and more complex security environment. This chapter seeks to assess some of the key historical turning points to shed light on how NATO has managed to remain relevant throughout all these years, and in particular how have the recent turbulent years in Washington D.C. and the renewed tensions with Russia have impacted the organisation. We will argue that a combination of strong US engagement and leadership with a broadly shared threat perception among Allies (primarily towards Russia) is the combination that continues to make NATO a significant embodiment of transatlantic security relations.

  • Security policy
  • NATO
Routledge2.PNG
  • Security policy
  • NATO
Research project
2022 - 2025 (Ongoing)

Arctic Pressures (ArcPres)

Russia’s reinvasion of Ukraine in 2022 precipitated a challenging new chapter for Arctic political and security dynamics. Going forward, security and governance developments in the region will continu...

  • Security policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • North America
  • The Nordic countries
  • Climate
  • Oceans
  • International organizations
  • Security policy
  • Diplomacy
  • Foreign policy
  • Europe
  • Russia and Eurasia
  • North America
  • The Nordic countries
  • Climate
  • Oceans
  • International organizations
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