[Norway] Phone Call to Sweden

[Odinson]

Prime Minister Felix Frost was in his private study at Inkognitogata 18 when he was told about the the incident involving the Swedish frigate and Argentine icebreaker in Antarctica, and then he was told about Argentina's declaration. He picked up the phone in his private study and made a secure call to Prime Minister Löfven in Stockholm. He patiently waited for the phone to be answered.
Connor

 

[Odinson]

Connor

 

[Connor]

Immediately recognising the Norwegian dialling code the Prime Minister would grab the encrypted telephone line from his private office, given the global tension the Swedish Prime Minister would be staying up beyond reasonable hours and working extensively to resolve the tension. He found peace with the Norwegian call, giving him chance to collect his thoughts and speak to a close friend.

"Felix, I am so glad to receive your call; how are you?"​

 

[Odinson]

Felix doubled checked that he was alone in his study, and double-checked that he was on his encrypted line before greeting his friend.

"I'm doing well Stefan. Thank you for taking the time to answer - I'm sure that you're busy right now. I wanted to discuss Antarctica with you... Before I begin, I'd like to say that on behalf of the Norwegian people, I'm very sorry for the loss of the sailors aboard the Sno... Please bear with me while I explain things here:
Firstly, I can tell you that Norway unequivocally stands with Sweden politically, and militarily. If our mutual defense treaty is activated, the Norwegian armed forces will coordinate with your military to defend Sweden and Swedish Antarctica as if it were Norway. We are entirely with you," he said.

"Secondly," he continued, "I think you would agree that an open conflict between the Nordic Council and Argentina, in the Southern Ocean, right off the coast of Argentina where they'd have air-superiority would likely end in a deadly stalemate. The Ministry of Defense and the Norwegian Intelligence Service have estimated that we could inflict significant damage onto Argentinian military facilities - especially their naval forces - as well as major Argentine infrastructure, but that they would in kind be able to inflict biblical damage to our naval forces, which would be deployed thousands upon thousands of kilometers away from Scandinavia. What would help doom us in this situation is our lack of carriers. We would be abale to inflict a high amount of financial damage to the Argentinians, while Norwegian and Swedish casualties would have virtually no hope of rescue or recovery, and could reach anywhere from 5000 to 10,000 sailors. This would arguably be called a victory for Argentina, but it would be at a significant cost for them in their homeland, as well as unbelievable losses for us.

"Without me asking them to, the NIS also helped the Ministry of Defense run wargames where we launch several surprise attacks against Argentine civilian infrastructure targets including their nuclear power stations in Embalse and Atucha as well as government leadership throughout the country. Other scenarios included a mass-missile attack on Buenos Aires, as well as targeting major airports and cultural sites throughout their country. With the exception of targeting airports, basically everything I just said would be considered serious war crimes, and I would never consider any of these options unless Argentina had conducted similar attacks against us. Ignoring that most of these things would be seriously immoral, they would also likely turn the rest of the world against us.

"My third point is a rather difficult one... but as your friend, and as Norway's closest ally, I think I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't say this. We will lose everything below 60 degrees-South if we allow this to escalate into a full war between the Nordic Council and Argentina. Some in the Ministry of Defense have told me that this may be worth it if we can kill x-number of Argentinian military personnel and destroy x-number of assets, but I disagree. I don't think this would be a worthy cause to throw 4000 Norwegians into the bottom of the Southern Ocean, even if they could drag down 4000 Argentinians with them. However, if we enter into peace talks with Argentina, I believe that we can come to an amicable peace agreement between our three countries where we all at least get something, and no more life has to be lost.

"Primarily, our objectives would be: to largely demilitarize Antarctica with a few small exceptions; to alter Swedish Antarctic claims to appease Argentina; to solidify the recognition of Norway's Antarctic claim; and finally to have peace declared between Argentina and Sweden. I have spoken with the King, the Council of State, and with some prominent members of the Storting - if we could accomplish those things, then Norway would be willing to share their overall claim to sovereignty of Queen Maud Land with Sweden...

"Foreign Minister Vinter spoke with Argentina's Foreign Minister, and they seem look-warm about entering peace talks, I think partially because they think Sweden probably wont enter them. However, if you can tell me that you would like to have these talks, then I will call Secretary General Stone and I'm sure he'd be willing to personally host them in The Netherlands to mediate. If Argentina declined to enter the peace talks at that point, then I think we would certainly have the moral high-ground. In that case, I would first issue an emergency resolution to the Global Assembly to have an international embargo placed on Argentina. Also, I am confident that the United States Navy, and Britain in some limited capacity, would be willing join our forces which would drastically change the entire situation in our favor.

"...What do you think, Stefan?"
Connor

 

[Connor]

"Felix, I wholeheartedly appreciate the unconditional support Norway has shown us from start to finish during this conflict, this has been the first real test of the relationship between our nations and I certainly believe this has shown the globe that Norway, Sweden and the Nordic Council stand side-by-side through thick and thin. The crew of HSwMS Sno will receive the sending off they deserve following the undoubtedly terrorist attack against the Swedish Royal Navy vessel, their unparalleled sacrifice will not be forgotten - the crew aboard this vessel were literally treading into territory otherwise untouched by the modern world and was the largest deployment Sweden has committed to for decades. I could not be prouder of the Swedish Armed Forces whom have reacted amicably throughout.

I do not dispute that attempting to fight the Argentine forces when we are so far in distance is next to impossible and will see to more lives being lost over a battle we had no intention of fighting. We intend to continue to cooperate with the Global Assembly Antarctic Summit to come to a rational and fair arrangement on the division of Antarctica amongst historically claiming states. We do not and will not, however, allow Argentina to begin dictating who can and can not be within the region - we do not recognise their 'exclusion zone' and we do not recognise their power as an international enforcer, their actions have been nothing but violent, illegal and threatening from the off-set; displaying no attempt for peaceful diplomatic talks. At this stage, we do not intend to activate articles of the Nordic Concordant.

I will match your offer, Felix, once I have spoken to the King of course... perhaps we should see that all territory held by our respective states below 60 degrees South be held in a joint-sovereign venture to ensure Nordic interests in Antarctica and the history of such is retained within the region.

Without a doubt, I must stress, we do not have the capacity in our current form to fight a battle so far from our home ground and I am categorically not going to put the lives of Nordic sailors and armed forces personnel at risk. We will proceed with peace talks and return at a much later date to see this matter resolved in a legal capacity."

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"Stefan, I think that is the responsible decision that a worldpower would make... I entirely respect your decision here, especially in taking legal recourse. I'm confident that Sweden - that we are on the right side of this legally, and technically, and the world will see that. Would you be comfortable with me contacting the Secretary General to arrange some kind of peace talks between Argentina, Sweden, and Norway? I think that the quicker we do this, the better," he said to his friend.
Connor

 

[Connor]

"I really hope so, we have been building a case file throughout this conflict and should have a strong case once we've reached a stage of stability to pass this to the Department of Justice. We are struggling to reach any form of peace in the Global Assembly and I am unwilling to allow our diplomats to remain in indefinite imprisonment in Argentina whilst resolution for Antarctica is sought. Proposal has been raised by Australia to house the prisoners-of-war within a Australian Immigration Detention Centre which I would be much happier with, at least then we can be more confident in their living conditions and physical welfare... many of these people are just administrative staff and have never been on the wrong side of the law."

Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"I will contact the Secretary General as quickly as possible... I'm confident that I can convince him to mediate direct, in-person peace talks between the Nordic Council and Argentina. I'm sure that we'll have a much better chance at peace that way, instead of having to tip-toe through every other African and Asian country trying to get two words in to sound important.. I'll keep in touch, Stefan. Thanks for taking my call," he said, before hanging up. He then went to work sending a message to the Secretary General.
Connor