Norwegian government commits to 5% of GDP for defence spending

‘The world has become more dangerous and more unpredictable. Europe must shoulder greater responsibility for its own security. We must do more to keep our country secure and safe, and to contribute to our collective security together with our Allies in NATO,’ stated Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The decision aligns with NATO discussions ahead of the upcoming summit on 24–25 June, where Allied countries are considering adopting a 5% GDP target for defence. This target is designed to enhance military capability and societal resilience across member states.

According to Mr Støre, ‘The commitment we are now making is in line with the key priorities set out in the National Security Strategy, where we have stated clearly that we must rapidly strengthen our defence capability and enhance the resilience of Norwegian society. We are now following this up in cooperation with our Allies in NATO.’

Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik highlighted the seriousness of the security threat, noting, ‘Russia poses a significant, long-term threat to our security. To address this threat, the NATO defence ministers agreed at a meeting in June on a new set of capability targets, the most ambitious targets NATO has had since the Cold War.’

The new spending commitment includes bolstering the civilian sector, which is seen as essential to overall defence preparedness. ‘In the event of a major crisis or war, it is essential that the Norwegian Armed Forces and civil society work closely together. The Armed Forces are dependent on civilian support. It is therefore vital that we enhance the ability of the civilian sector to do its part of the job,’ added Mr Støre.

The 5% GDP target is to comprise 3.5% for core defence expenditure and 1.5% for civilian investments that support military readiness and resilience. Mr Støre explained, ‘The 1.5 % can be allocated to areas and measures that boost our resilience and support the implementation of our defence plans. This could include expenditures relating to operational costs and investments in infrastructure, civil preparedness, security of energy supply, efforts to expand the capacity of the defence industry and measures to protect us from hybrid and cyber threats.’

Following the NATO Summit, the Government plans to consult with the Storting on implementing the new target. ‘There is broad agreement in the Storting on the need to invest more in our national defence. After the NATO Summit, we will engage in dialogue with the various parties in the Storting on the specifics of our plan for reaching the new target and strengthening our defence capability,’ said Mr Støre.

Norway already exceeds NATO’s current defence spending benchmark, with an expected 3.3% of GDP allocated in 2025, including military aid to Ukraine. Mr Sandvik concluded, ‘We must devote more of our country’s resources to defence, security and preparedness, including within the civilian sector. We must adapt rapidly and develop good solutions that enable us to meet Norway’s and NATO’s needs.’

Source: Norwegian Ministry of Defence.