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 filtersHva skal Forsvaret forsvare?
(Norwegian only): Forsvaret av Norge opptar folk, men fokuset i forsvarsdebatten har vært mest på budsjett, baser og struktur. Det er imidlertid en tendens til at vi glemmer å diskutere det mest grunnleggende, nemlig hva slags trussel Forsvaret skal forsvare oss mot. Hvordan bør Forsvaret skrus sammen for å forhindre krig, avskrekke Russland, og kunne respondere alene og med allierte?
Vil USA fortsatt forsvare Europa?
(Available in Norwegian only): Har det noen effekt når Trump svinger pisken over sine allierte og krever høyere forsvarsbudsjett? Vil det få fortgang i forsvarsinvesteringene i Europa?
NATO-skuta ikke enkel å snu
(Available in Norwegian only): Alliansen har i snart to tiår fokusert på utenlandsoperasjoner. Nå har kollektivt forsvar kommet øverst på dagsorden, men i et Europa preget av økonomiske problemer er endringer krevende.
Cyberangrep - hvem har ansvaret?
(Available in Norwegian only): Digitale angrep er den mest sannsynlige trusselen mot Norge, konkluderte både e-tjenesten og PST med da de med kort tids mellomrom slapp sine trusselvurderinger. Kort tid etter avslørte PST at hackere, høyst sannsynlig med russisk tilknytning, har angrepet Forsvaret, Utenriksdepartementet og Arbeiderpartiet. Angrepene ligner veldig på angrepet mot demokratenes e-postserver i USA i høst, både i måten de ble utført på og hvem som er mistenkt for å stå bak. Frykten for russisk innblanding risikerer nå å skygge over den ubehagelige sannheten, nemlig at cybersikkerhet i altfor liten grad blir tatt på alvor og forstått. Hvem har ansvaret for å beskytte oss mot dette?
Adapting NATO’s Conventional Force Posture in the Nordic-Baltic Region
The security of NATO members in the Nordic-Baltic region is interconnected by such factors as the possibility of geographical escalation, the importance of securing the North Atlantic for U.S. reinforcement of Europe, and the key role of cooperation with NATO partners Sweden and Finland. NATO must consider these interconnections as it continues to adapt to the challenge posed by Russia. NATO’s further adaptation should fill in the gaps in Allied force posture and be guided by an overarching principle of ensuring coherence between its existing elements and new ones. Given Poland and Norway’s close views on NATO and transatlantic relations, as well as their credibility rooted in their various contributions to the Alliance, the countries should jointly advocate a coherent process in the Nordic-Baltic region.
Kosovo and the Western Balkans: towards democratic change?
Albin Kurti visits NUPI to talk about Kosovo and the political change in the country.
Swedish–Norwegian Defence Cooperation: New opportunities?
Swedish–Norwegian defence cooperation has encountered rough seas in recent years, but now seems to have entered smoother waters. This is due to both push and pull factors: push because the new security environment has increased the likelihood of a crisis in the Nordic/Baltic region, which would probably involve all Nordic states, irrespective of NATO or EU membership. Pull because of the renewed US engagement in the region, because of the EU incentives for industrial defence cooperation – and because geographical proximity in itself creates possibilities for shared solutions and practices. This Policy Brief focuses on Swedish–Norwegian defence cooperation in the broader Nordic/Baltic context. We begin by reviewing recent developments in Swedish defence policies, and the implications of previous failed joint Swedish–Norwegian projects. We then turn to opportunities that may emerge as a result of the mentioned push and pull factors. These opportunities are to be considered as ideas; they have not been thoroughly discussed and assessed, but may serve as starting points for follow-on debates and explorations.
Cyber as a strategic dimension in National Security - The Israeli perspective
Politically motivated cyber-attacks are on the rise internationally. Such attacks can cause serious damage to the most sensitive security organizations and critical infrastructures. As a result, cyber is now often regarded as the fifth warfare and defense dimension after land, sea, air and space.
Swedish–Norwegian Defence Cooperation: New opportunities?
Swedish–Norwegian defence cooperation has encountered rough seas in recent years, but now seems to have entered smoother waters. This is due to both push and pull factors: push because the new security environment has increased the likelihood of a crisis in the Nordic/Baltic region, which would probably involve all Nordic states, irrespective of NATO or EU membership. Pull because of the renewed US engagement in the region, because of the EU incentives for industrial defence cooperation – and because geographical proximity in itself creates possibilities for shared solutions and practices. This Policy Brief focuses on Swedish–Norwegian defence cooperation in the broader Nordic/Baltic context. We begin by reviewing recent developments in Swedish defence policies, and the implications of previous failed joint Swedish–Norwegian projects. We then turn to opportunities that may emerge as a result of the mentioned push and pull factors. These opportunities are to be considered as ideas; they have not been thoroughly discussed and assessed, but may serve as starting points for follow-on debates and explorations.
Montenegro’s integration to EU and NATO in challenging times
Montenegro is about to become NATOs 29th member, and is the first country from the Western Balkans to join since Croatia in 2009. Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro visits NUPI to share his view of the situation.