This is an extremely poorly written op-ed piece. I would have expected much more from someone holding a Canada research chair. The article lacks focus, misstates and distorts several key items, and generally smacks of propaganda.
First, the visit by the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia took place two years ago. If this was indeed a provocation then either Norway is derelict in its duty to respond, or more likely, it was not considered to be a major provocation. More likely the author is simply trying to link the two events in order to exaggerate the importance of the former event, or justify holding the NATO Parliamentary meeting at a locale certainly calculated to draw a response from the Russian government.  Second, the author clearly knows that the raison d'être is far broader and more far-reaching than simply countering any suppose a threat from Russia. I can only guess that this is a deliberate distortion.
The author should not put this article into his curriculum vitae.