Norwegian troops take part in Nordic Response, a large-scale NATO exercise in the spring of 2024. Recently, Norway announceed a major boost in defense spending and signed an agreement with the U.S. to allow more collaboration between the allies. AFP/GETTY IMAGES
THE WATCH STAFF
Norway’s Parliament overwhelmingly approved an expanded defense agreement with the United States in late May 2024, the latest in a pattern of Nordic countries seeking closer collaboration with the U.S. and NATO. In February 2024, Norway agreed to amend a 2021 defense agreement with the U.S. to allow unimpeded access to 12 military areas in Norway, up from four. On May 30, 2024, the parliament in Oslo approved the agreement 85-12.
“Strategic and operational cooperation with the USA will continue to be crucial for the defense of Norway. The USA and Norway have a common interest in free movement in the North Atlantic and cooperation on the allied strengthening of the Nordic region in line with NATO’s planning. This is mutually beneficial for all allies,” read a memo from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD) that accompanied the legislation, according to the High North News, a Norwegian newspaper.
Norway’s action comes after similar agreements recently forged in Denmark, Finland and Sweden allowing greatly expanded access for the U.S. military to store equipment, munitions and other war materiel, conduct training exercises, and otherwise fulfill its NATO treaty obligations. The expanded defense agreements parallel diplomatic and political realignments in Scandinavia: Finland joined NATO in 2023, and Sweden followed this year. Denmark and Norway are founding members of the trans-Atlantic alliance that began in 1949. All the Nordic members have also significantly increased defense spending since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which spurred the decision among Scandinavian governments to scuttle decades of non-alignment in their foreign policy. Denmark, Finland and Sweden have all greatly expanded their collaboration with U.S forces in their territories this year.
As for Norway, its MoD said in the memo: “Building defense capability takes time. For Norway, it is important to base our defense planning on a long-term perspective. The establishment of eight new agreed areas will strengthen Norwegian security in a clear and predictable way by putting in place long-term and more binding frameworks for the development of defense cooperation with the USA and is also important for the development of Nordic defense cooperation — and for supporting NATO’s collective defense,” the statement read.
The Andøya Air Base in northern Norway is slated to become a joint operational base with U.S. troops and assets part of its regular garrison. In April 2024, the two nations agreed to build an advanced satellite station there to serve as an advanced warning sensor. Meanwhile, the Norwegian government has sought to allay Russian concerns with its closer military relationship with the U.S. For example, Norway has argued for Russia to stay active in the Arctic Council, the group of eight nations with Arctic territory.
The MoD’s note explained the tension inherent in Norway’s position as a neighbor of an increasingly bellicose Russia. “At the same time, it is also important for Norway to assess the military benefits against any costs linked to possible negative consequences for the longer-term security policy development in our part of the world. We must avoid long-term negative consequences for the neighboring relationship with Russia and an undermining of the long-term objectives of Norwegian security policy. This is a demanding balancing act seen in light of the current security policy situation,” the statement read, according to the High North News.