Norwegian Defense Staff Reports Security Breach to PST Following VG Publication
Oslo, Norway – February 19, 2026 – The staff of Norwegian Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen has filed a report with the Police Security Service (PST) regarding a potential breach of the Security Act, following the publication of a classified letter in the newspaper VG last summer. The PST has confirmed the launch of an investigation to determine if the letter was leaked.
Details of the Incident
The incident centers around a letter sent in 2022 from then-Chief of the Defense Staff, Vice Admiral Elisabeth Natvig, to the Ministry of Defence. The letter revealed that Chief of Defense Kristoffersen intended to disband a new maritime task force one month before the Minister of Defense informed the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) that the project was on schedule. VG published the contents of this letter on June 3, 2022, prompting a subsequent parliamentary review of the delays in establishing the task force.
PST Investigation
According to a statement provided to VG by Haris Hrenovica, the prosecutor responsible for the investigation, the PST is investigating whether anyone improperly shared the classified letter with the newspaper. “We can confirm that PST has received a report from The Defense Staff and that we have launched an investigation into a breach of the Security Act,” Hrenovica stated. The investigation is focused solely on the publication of the news article.
Security Classification
The letter in question was classified as “Limited,” the lowest level of security grading under Norwegian law. According to the Security Act, this classification is used for information where unauthorized disclosure could have some damaging consequences for national security interests.
Defense Leadership and Transparency
The Norwegian Defense Forces has stated its commitment to openness regarding information that is not security-graded. In a column published in Aftenposten three months ago, Chief of Defense Kristoffersen emphasized the importance of openness and debate for a strong defense. However, the defense leadership has not yet responded to questions from VG regarding how the report aligns with Kristoffersen’s message of transparency, the specific damage caused by the publication, or potential chilling effects on freedom of expression.
Lieutenant-Colonel Stine Barclay Gaasland, Deputy Chief of Communications in the Armed Forces, stated that the Armed Forces are obligated to report security breaches and will not provide further details due to security concerns.
Legal Framework
The PST is investigating the case as a potential violation of Section 5-4 of the Security Act, which concerns the duty of confidentiality regarding classified information.
Sources: VG, Forsvarets Forum, Radioh.no