Norway to contribute to Alliance’s security in the east

Norway is prepared to provide a company group to take part in the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP), which was adopted at the NATO Summit in Warsaw on 8-9 July. The eFP will ensure the presence of multinational NATO forces on a rotating basis in member countries that are in a particularly vulnerable position, i.e. Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 

­‘The eFP concept is part of NATO’s broad approach to strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture. NATO must adapt to the new security challenges and ensure that it can protect all its members. These forces will not have a permanent presence, but will remain for as long as necessary. Maintaining this presence in the east will show that the European countries have the ability and the will to improve transatlantic burden-sharing. Solidarity within the Alliance is more important than ever before,’ said Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

Mechanised company group
The Government has decided that Norway is to offer a military contribution of around 200 military personnel to NATO’s enhanced presence in the east. This could be in the form of a mechanised company group or another army unit of similar size. 

‘We will offer NATO these forces for approximately six months in 2017. This contribution to the enhanced presence in the east will play an important part in the Alliance’s total deterrence and defence posture, which in turn is important for Norway’s security,’ said Minister of Defence Ine Eriksen Søreide.

The final details of Norway’s contribution and the date for its deployment will be clarified later.

About eFP
During the course of 2017, NATO will deploy four battalion-sized battle groups of 1 000 soldiers each in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. These will be led from a multinational division headquarters in Poland. The eFP does not violate the NATO–Russia Founding Act of 1997.