TRONDHEIM, Norway - Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 18 is using a fictitious scenario where Norway has been attacked, and due to such an attack on the Alliance, NATO Response Forces respond quickly subsequently enabling the northern country to test their Total Defence Concept in the process.

Co-operation between the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) is extremely close and Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 18 has provided a platform to test and reinforce civil defensive procedures and assess national vulnerabilities and preparedness.

"Norway is a very safe country, but world security has and is changing rapidly and the Total Defence Concept is key in order to cope with all challenges," said Morten Harangen, DSB Deputy Head of Communication. "It has taken steady progress to develop such close cooperation with our Norwegian Armed Forces and other agencies."

In any crisis or conflict, both military and civilian authorities must work together, especially in times of cyber aggression or other hybrid activity. These close working relationships across all spectrums of Norwegian national life form a Total Defence Concept that enables extensive unity of effort.

"Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 18 provides us with a unique opportunity to test our Host Nation capabilities and the Defence Concept, reflecting extremely close co-operation and synchronisation," said Cecilie Daae, Director General DSB. "It has been an essential exercise to test our procedures in order to safeguard our Norwegian population," she added.

The Norwegian Total Defence Concept has been fully integrated into all aspects of Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 18 activity and in the phases completed so far, has proved an outstanding success. In the future, further DSB activity and exercises will involve mass casualty situations and emergency services, followed by other scenarios such as environmental and natural disasters.