Palle Ydstebø

According to Ydstebø, his given name of "Palle" — common in Denmark but extremely rare in Norway — was handed down for generations from a certain ombudsman sent by the Danish government who settled on Kvitsøy in the 17th century.^[3]

Ydstebø's studies focused on strategy, geopolitics, operational art, and landpower. He is a specialist on the Soviet Union, North Korea, and Israel.^[1] He has also written on NATO planning in the Arctic.^[4]

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ydstebø frequently appeared in Norwegian media as a military expert on the Russo-Ukrainian War. In 2023, he was awarded the Norwegian Army Medal of Merit [no] for his efforts to make information about the Russian invasion of Ukraine accessible to the public.^[5] Ydstebø's commentary on the causes of the war and its historical significance are characterized as pro-NATO.

• Martti J. Kari