The world is changing in several areas at the same time, geopolitically, economically and technologically. War and conflict have come closer, defence budgets are increasing and defensive capability is being strengthened.

In the lecture, Henning-A. Frantzen addresses questions regarding what and who we must defend ourselves against, what the developments mean for Norway and the Armed Forces, and how global changes may affect local communities.

Henning-A. Frantzen from Ål is a retired major general. He has served in the Armed Forces since 1987 and has extensive experience from various missions and units, including from the UN forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan.

He holds a Master's degree and a PhD from King’s College London, in addition to education from the Norwegian Staff College and the Executive Course at the Norwegian Defence University College, where he later served as commandant and head. From 2021 to 2025, he led the work on developing the government’s long-term defence plan, which was unanimously adopted by the Storting in 2024. Today, Frantzen is self-employed.