Arctic eTalks

Arctic eTalks is hosted by “The Watch” Command Magazine, United States Northern Command, United States European Command, United States Indo-Pacific Command and the Center for Arctic Security and Resilience.

Arctic eTalks is a monthly forum for open discussion (non-attribution) on key issues affecting the Circumpolar Arctic for academics, defense and security professionals, and military leaders from Canada, Finland, Iceland, Kingdom of Denmark (Greenland and Faroe Islands), Norway, Sweden, and the United States

Partners Include:

• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory - United Kingdom
• George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
• Joint Task Force (North) - Canadian Armed Forces
• Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom (UK MOD)
  
• NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (StratCom)
  
• North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network (NAADSN)
• Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS)
• Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI)
• Royal Danish Defence College (fak.dk)
• United States Coast Guard (Arctic)
• William J. Perry Center, National Defense University (NDU)

 

Arctic eTalks  for June 2021 - featuring mr. Svein Efjestad

 

Biography:

Svein Efjestad, born 21. February 1953 at Varhaug, South West Norway.

Svein Efjestad graduated from The University of Oslo in 1980 (Political Science, International Law and History). He held a scholarship at the Norwegian Foreign Policy Institute (NUPI) from 1978 – 1980.

He joined the Ministry of Defence in 1981 working in the Security Policy Office, acting as Head of the office from 1985 – 1986.

Efjestad joined the Norwegian Delegation to NATO from 1986 – 1990. There he worked on different defence planning and nuclear policy committees.

Returning to the Ministry of Defence in 1990, Efjestad was appointed Head of Division, in charge of The Security Policy Office. In 1991, he was promoted to Deputy Director General in The Security Policy Department.

From 1995 – 2013 Efjestad was Director General for Security Policy at the Ministry of Defence. From 2013, Efjestad is Policy Director at the same ministry.

Efjestad has been representing Norway in a number of committees in NATO, including the High Level Group and the Senior Official Group. Ha has chaired many bilateral and regional committees including the bilateral US - Norwegian Study Group and the Nordic Policy Steering Committee.

He has also been a member of the Coordination Committee for the Secret Service in Norway and the Coordination Committee for the Norwegian Intelligence Service.

Currently, Efjestad is chairing the Coast Guard Council. He represents Norway at the Political Steering Committee of the Nordic Defence Cooperation. He represents Norway in a number of international meetings.

Efjestad is member of the “Board for the Norwegian Defence Institute”. He has lectured at several Norwegian and International Institutions on defence and security issues.

In 2014, Efjestad was awarded “Das Ehrenkreutz der Bundeswehr in Gold” from the German Minister of Defence. Also in 2014, Efjestad was appointed Commander of “Finlands Lejons Orden”.

Efjestad is married to Anne. They have two daughters and one son, and four grandchildren.

 

Publications by Mr. Svein Efjestad:

• Norway and the North Atlantic: Defence of the Northern Flank
• The Nordic Region
• NATO’s Enduring Relevance

Presentation Slides: Download

 

Presentation Recording: