VS: Thank you, Colonel!
Welcome to Romania.
How is the activity of military reserves perceived at both NATO and national level?

Col. Jørn Buø: Well, I think it’s a very good question, and it’s obviously very different because each nation has its own concept.
We see that some nations kept more or less the same concept after the Cold War. Some nations basically downsized their reserves, and now it’s time to build them up again.
So international cooperation is a lot about finding best practice, seeing how it’s done in different nations, learning from each other, and giving good advice to defence staffs and governments on how they can develop a sustainable reserve concept within a national framework, but aligned and coordinated within NATO.

VS: What is the public attitude toward the reserve in your country?

Col. Jørn Buø: If you ask about my country, I would say it’s very good.
We have quite a good reserve concept, even though it still has to be developed and has to grow. We have a Home Guard with reservists — about 40,000 to 45,000 people — all over Norway.
So basically everybody in Norway knows reservists and has a reservist in their family.

VS: What do relations with Romania mean to you?

Col. Jørn Buø: Well, Romania is an important ally in NATO, and you are also very close to where things are in conflict. You are a very important strategic country in Europe on the southeastern flank.
And what I’ve seen here is that you have put a lot of effort into this conference. So far it’s a great conference, and it shows that you take allied cooperation and partnership very seriously, which is very, very positive.

VS: Thank you very much, and good luck with this Congress.

Col. Jørn Buø: I would echo those sentiments.
It’s been very impressive to see all the support that you have given us as an organization to deliver this conference. It’s been very welcoming.
Romania is a key partner within NATO and has been a key partner within our organizations as well.
As already said, it has a unique perspective due to its geographical position and where it is in the East, and I think that’s been really important. So very much a key member of the team.

VS: I hope to visit my country next year.
Thank you very much.