Norwegian Foreign Minister Eide Says Military Force Has Limits — The National
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said during the UN General Assembly in New York, United States, that the wars in Ukraine and Iran demonstrate the limitations of military force. He also expressed confidence that neither side in the Russian-Ukrainian war will achieve a complete military victory, The National reports.
Consequences for trade
Eide called disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait caused by the war in Iran a serious problem. According to him, the closure of these routes affects all countries around the world. He added that the war waged by the Russian Federation — an aggressor state — against Ukraine and the effective closure of a significant part of the Black Sea also have global consequences.
The minister noted that Norway, as a maritime and trading nation, feels the impact of ships being blocked and rising transportation costs. In his view, this makes the world less peaceful and economically less prosperous, while for individual states it means a reduction in GDP or slower growth.
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Prospects for ending the war
The former Norwegian defence minister said that military means must either deprive the adversary of the ability to act or compel it to take certain actions. If this cannot be achieved, it demonstrates the limits of using military force, Eide stressed.
He recalled that Russia had expected to complete the so-called “special military operation” within a few days or weeks. According to Eide's assessment, in the fifth year of the war Russia controls 20% of Ukraine's territory, which, in his view, also means it is unable to seize the remaining 80% of the country.
Eide stressed the need for mediation and lasting peace. He warned that every day the war continues makes reconstruction more difficult, while the conditions for ending the conflict will have long-term consequences for the post-war period.
