Related News Norway sees increased Russian military activity along its coast Comment Tell A Friend Print Format Save Article Norway's Defense Ministry has stepped up its patrol of the northern coastal region after Russia dispatched more bombers to join training missions close to that area last week, reports reaching here said Monday.



"We have strengthened our preparedness in the north, and sent extra fighter jets to Bodo," Norwegian State Secretary Espen Barth Eide told Aftenposten newspaper.



His comments came after more Russian bombers were spotted off the Norwegian coast Friday. Norwegian fighter jets were sent out several times to monitor the Russian flights, to make sure that they stayed out of the Norwegian territory. Norwegians view the Russian training exercises as a power play.



"Russia wants to make it clear that we should view them as a superpower," Barth Eide said. "At the same time, they want to prove that they have the resources to carry out such exercises."



But he stressed that Russian officials had notified their Norwegian counterparts about the training missions, and promised that they wouldn't violate Norwegian air space.



In mid-July, Russia also sent bombers near Norway.



Source: Xinhua