Norway ready to step up defence needs, says prime minister

31 allies have committed to a target of spending 2 percent of their output on defence but not all have done so individually

By Reuters

February 19, 2024

Norways Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store addresses a joint press conference following a security meeting in Harpsund, Sweden, on February 22, 2023. — AFP — Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store addresses a joint press conference following a security meeting in Harpsund, Sweden, on February 22, 2023. — AFP

MUNICH: Norway is “ready to stand up and be counted” on defence spending ahead of a Nato Washington summit in July, the Nordic country’s prime minister told Reuters on Saturday, adding that Oslo was preparing a new long-tem defence plan

The country last year set a target for the first time to raise its defence spending to at least 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2026, in line with a long-held goal among members of the Nato alliance.

Former US president Donald Trump shocked Europeans earlier this month by saying he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to Nayo allies that did not spend enough.

The 31 allies have committed to a target of spending 2 percent of their output on defence but not all have done so individually.

When asked whether Norway could bring forward that deadline, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere appeared to open the door to speeding that process, saying the government would present in the coming months a new long-term defence plan based on a broad commission of experts and all political parties.