Pledges double-digit billion extra for armed forces – 1% target to be met next year – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

The backdrop is Europe's tense security situation, with Norway's neighbor Russia waging war against another neighbor, Ukraine.

– Here we are talking about double-digit billion sums over the years. A powerful expansion must take place. We need more for the army, more for the Home Guard, we need to protect the air force and the navy, Finance Minister Trygve Slacksvold tells Vedum NRK.

– We present our long-term plan, which will be NATO's first Two percent target There is, adds the SP leader.

Went to Norvik yesterday with defense chief Erik Kristofferson. The two discussed cooperation between health and defense at the new hospital in the city and met schoolchildren who will soon join the armed forces.

In addition, the visit was used to announce a major investment in the armed forces in the new long-term plan, which will be presented soon.

NATO targets can be achieved earlier

Since 2014, all NATO members have aimed to spend 2 percent of their country's gross domestic product (GDP) on defense.

Prime Minister Jonas Karstor (AP) says the plan is to meet the 2 percent of GDP target for defense by 2026, but has not ruled out that happening sooner.

– We started in 2027, now we say 2026. But we will present this long-term plan after Easter. We'll see exactly when that will be, says Støre in Politisk kvarter on NRK.

– Could it be before 2026?

– It can, but our GDP moves more than other countries. But we must now have an expansion plan. That investment is going to get us to where we need to be among peers.

– So can the two percent target be met by 2025?

– We have said that 2026 is in the plan, but I want to keep it open until we present it. But it is within reach.

Fluctuations in Norway's GDP are due to oil and gas prices heavily affecting Norway's economy.

Close the gap

Defense and Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gramm (SP) is now putting the finishing touches on a new long-term plan for the armed forces. The proposal is expected before Easter.

Vedham believes that before the summer, the vast majority of the Storting will have abandoned the project.

Defense chief Eric Christopherson is clear about what he wants.

– I have said that NOK 50 to 80 billion is needed to achieve the current long-term plan until 2028, says NRK.

The armed forces are currently struggling with deficiencies in air defense, anti-submarine warfare, ability to securely communicate and military capability with sufficient experience, FFI said in a recent report.

It was also said that due to low price compensation in the budgets, the economic imbalance has increased in 2023 as compared to the security analysis.

Kristoffersen says there isn't a big gap between his own analysis and the FFI's interpretation of the armed forces' situation.

– Grants are only needed to cover some of the gaps we have. Focusing on new capabilities will require more investment.

– left too late

The new defense plan will be one of the top topics when the government discusses next year's state budget in a couple of weeks.

Conversations about a long-term plan are already underway in Storting. There have also been murmurs that the government is lagging in both the plan and the allocations.

– The government is taking too long to build up the armed forces when the needs are so great, said Frp president Sylvie Listak after the FFI recently came out with its analysis.

He has advocated an extraordinary investment to strengthen the armed forces and has been open about violating the rules of procedure for using oil money.

– He says the security analysis shows that current budgets are not meeting targets, material acquisitions are being postponed and required maintenance is not being carried out adequately.

– Did you take too long, role?

– Contrary to Erna Solberg, there has been a sharp increase in defense budgets since the Conservative Party and the FRP left their offices because we believed it was important to meet the two percent target. So these are somewhat empty words,” says the finance minister.

Solberg was also asked about the percentage target in Politisk kvarter this morning.

– I always thought it was brilliant. I sat in that NATO meeting and was involved in the decision to aim for two percent. But the most important thing is that there is a real increase in Norway's defense capacity.

Solberg indicated that his government plans to meet the target by 2027 with normal GDP growth.