Norway and NATO

Membership of NATO is of fundamental importance to Norway’s defence, and our ability to deter attacks on our country and prevent conflict. NATO is also the primary political forum for consultations among Allies on security policy. Norway attaches great importance to NATO as an arena for discussion on security policy. This dates back to 1956, when NATO's committee of ‘three wise men’, with former Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Halvard Lange as one of the members, was appointed to make recommendations on extending non-military cooperation between Allies. 

Norway gives priority to building political cohesion among the Allies and to ensuring that the Alliance has sufficient resources. Both of these are essential if NATO is to carry out its core tasks and succeed in adapting to a changing security landscape. Fair burden-sharing is an essential principle in NATO, and the Norwegian Government has committed to increasing its defence spending to a minimum of 2 % of Norway's GDP by 2026.

Norway’s contributions to NATO

Norway contributes to NATO in a variety of ways. Norway is currently providing military personnel to the NATO Response Force, the NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Lithuania, and to the capacity-building NATO Mission Iraq. Norway monitors airspace in the Arctic with F-35 fighter aircrafts as a part of the NATO Quick Reaction Alert mission, and supports NATO's Standing Naval Forces. Norway also carries out maritime surveillance, which is vital to NATO’s situational awareness in the north.

In 2018, Norway hosted Trident Juncture 18, NATO's largest military exercise since the Cold War. During the exercise, 50 000 Allied troops trained in Norway. The NATO Joint Warfare Centre is located in Stavanger and is used for training of Allied personnel serving at NATO's operational headquarters. The NATO Centre of Excellence - Cold Weather Operations is also based in Norway. The centre provides specialised training on operating in cold weather to Allies and partner countries.

Norwegians in NATO

At present, former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is serving as NATO’s Secretary General. Mr Stoltenberg has held the position since 2014, which makes him one of the Alliance’s longest-serving Secretary Generals.

Norway's Permanent Delegation to NATO is currently headed by Ambassador Anita Nergaard. Vice Admiral Louise Dedichen is the Norwegian Military Representative to NATO, and is the first woman to serve on the NATO Military Committee. The NATO Military Committee has been chaired by three Norwegians: Lieutenant General Øen 1958–1959, General Zeiner-Gundersen 1977–1980 and General Eide 1989–1993.

Support to Ukraine

Norway is giving substantial support to Ukraine. Under the multi-year Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, Norway will provide NOK 75 billion over a period of five years. In 2023, half of the assistance will be in the form of military support. Norway also contributes support via the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine.