Address to the Storting on the security policy situation

Checked against delivery. Translated from Norwegian.

Mr President,

I am giving this address against the backdrop of the most serious security policy situation our country has faced since the Second World War.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is continuing unabated, and Russia is rapidly rearming.

Adjusting to a new US administration has been challenging.

We are seeing major shifts in US foreign and security policy. And in trade policy.

Many of the statements that have been made have created uncertainty and elicited strong reactions.

In a situation such as this, it is essential to maintain a close dialogue with the Storting on the implications of the latest developments for Norway.  

The focus of this address, Mr President, is limited to the war in Ukraine, the new signals from the US, and the steps the Government is now taking.

This address is about our relations with the US, with our European allies, and about how we can support Ukraine and contribute to the effort to achieve an end to the war and a sustainable and just peaceful solution. And what we can do to strengthen the security of the countries of Europe.

The Norwegian people can be sure that we are doing everything that is needed in the situation we are contending with.

I would like to propose to all the parties in the Storting that we meet this afternoon to discuss and agree on a significant increase in this year’s funding for the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.

Mr President,

Many of the people we have talked to across the country have expressed growing concerns. Some people are scared, many are uneasy.

The events taking place elsewhere in the world feel uncomfortably near.  

I have been visiting Nordland county over the last two days, and it is clear that people are worried – about their own jobs, among other things.  

And I understand why.

To you, I would like to say this:  

While it seems as if much is in a state of flux, a great deal remains unchanged.

First, the situation is stable here in the north, where we have Russia as a neighbour.

Second, there is little to suggest that Russia sees it as in its interests, or has the capacity, to engage in a military conflict with NATO at present.

And third, NATO is a powerful defence alliance whose members, including Norway, are now making a concerted effort to significantly strengthen and coordinate their defence capabilities.

What I hear from the European leaders who have had most contact with President Trump and the US administration is the consistent message that the US stands by its NATO commitments, including Article 5.

So let’s not spend time speculating about this – let’s stay level-headed and work to ensure that all NATO Allies honour their commitments.

 

But, Mr President, these are new, uncertain times, and there is a new sense of gravity.

And at a time like this, it is important to focus on what we in Norway are good at and have experience of doing: coming together to determine how best to address the security and defence policy challenges we are faced with.

Just as we did when we agreed to establish the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, which we are now following up.

And as we did when we drew up the Long-term Defence Plan, which we are now implementing.  

It is of huge benefit to our country when we stand together in this way.

Mr President,

First, let me turn to the US.

Some six weeks after President Trump’s inauguration, we are seeing a new administration that has a clear ideological project.

The priorities are different.

The approach is unconventional.  

The style is often confrontational and unpredictable.  

Some six weeks in, we must remember that we are just that: six weeks into the new administration.  

We must be careful not to draw overly strong or sweeping conclusions. 

We are seeing that statements are often adjusted.

That words are retracted.

And that there are different voices in a new administration that has not yet found its final form.

Many roles have still not been filled.

Many policies are still being developed.

We have had constructive discussions with the new administration about our common interests.

Our impression is that both the President and his inner circle are willing to listen and engage in discussion, even though the tone in the media is confrontational.

Norway is a valuable ally for the US.

Mr President,

At the same time, a political shift is clearly under way.

We are gradually learning to read the new US administration.

We are distinguishing between confrontational rhetoric and policies that will actually be followed up.

Words will always matter, but we also need to be able to see past and behind them.

Norway, for its part, will stand by its values and defend its interests – and we will be clear about what is most important to us.

There is no doubt that the new administration’s policies will challenge us in many areas.

And greater unpredictability is rarely good for relations between states or for economic growth and prosperity.

New, higher tariffs are bad news for the global economy.

And bad news for us, with our open economy.

But so far, the US has not imposed new tariffs on imports from Norway or the EU.

The US has, however, introduced new tariffs on its neighbouring countries Canada and Mexico. This is a serious development.

It could lead to further escalation and retaliatory measures, which will be detrimental to everyone.

Here, Mr President, from Ny-Ålesund in the north via Mosjøen to Lindesnes in the south, we have 600 000 jobs related to export activities, providing employment for Norwegian women and men.  

We are therefore working actively to prevent Norway from being caught in what I have called a ‘triple squeeze’.  

First, we are working to prevent an increase in tariffs on Norwegian exports to the US.

Second, we are working to ensure that Norway is not affected by any reciprocal protective measures that may be introduced by the EU.

And third, we are preparing for a downturn in the global economy.

Mr President,

The US is of vital importance to Norwegian and European security.

Our security and defence cooperation is based on common interests, not least in the north.

The US knows that Norway, with its border with Russia and its proximity to Russian nuclear weapons, plays an important role in NATO, which also safeguards the safety and security of the US.

Our cooperation with the US has served us well for more than eight decades, through many different administrations.

It is being put into action every single day. We are seeing it now in the military exercise Joint Viking 2025 taking place here in our country – with Norwegian women and men in uniform training side by side with others including Americans. 

And we must not forget that our cooperation in certain areas was expanded under President Trump’s first administration.

 

Our aim is for our cooperation with the US to continue.

That is why we are seeking to engage stakeholders in the US.

That is why we are making use of all available contacts and meeting places to listen, build trust and promote Norwegian interests.

We speak out when we have to – as I and many here in the Storting have done over the past few weeks.

But above all, we are strengthening our national and European defence capabilities.

Norway will continue to be a relevant and reliable partner in areas of lasting strategic importance to the US.

Mr President,

We must nevertheless acknowledge that US priorities are changing.

Some of this goes back to President Obama’s administration, and maybe even further.

Over time, the US has been increasingly turning its attention towards Asia. China is the US’s main economic competitor.  

As a result, and as we have known for many years, Europe needs to shoulder a much larger share of the responsibility and the costs of safeguarding the security of our own continent.

This is something we have been taking very seriously for years.

Since my Government took office, we have nearly doubled the defence budget, from NOK 65 billion to NOK 125 billion.

We – all the parties in the Storting – have reached consensus on a new Long-term Defence Plan that will significantly strengthen our defence capability.             

The foundation underlying the plan remains the same – Norway must assume greater responsibility in relation to Norwegian and European security.

And this forms the basis for our priorities, Mr President:

First, to make optimum use of our existing defence capabilities.

And thereafter to strengthen the Navy, the land forces and the air defences and our situational awareness, and further bolster our resilience to cyber threats.

The plan we have drawn up together is a good one, Mr President.

Now it has become even more important for us to implement it as quickly and effectively as possible. And, as we emphasised when the plan was first presented, we must also be willing to adapt it to a changing security landscape.

A mere two months into the plan period, we can already see that the developments taking place around us will have ramifications that we need to address. The Government is prepared to make the changes that are called for in order to achieve our common goals.

We must also use the experience and knowledge gained from the ongoing war in Ukraine to improve our own defence capabilities.

We must accelerate the procurement processes for key defence materiel.

We must increase our own defence industrial production capacity, in parallel with the new production targets we are now seeing in all European countries.

And we must work together with other countries to find solutions to expedite deliveries.

The follow-up and implementation of the Long-term Defence Plan will be carried out in consultation with the parties here in the Storting, which have all been involved in drawing up the plan.

We will present our assessments in a white paper before the summer.

We must ensure that our society is equipped to deal with crisis and war.

We must do more to increase our ability to withstand complex threats, and back up military efforts if the situation calls for it.

The Government’s white paper on total preparedness will soon be discussed in the Storting. We hope that the parties will be able to come together and agree on how to strengthen civilian resilience in Norway.

 

Mr President,

Last Friday’s meeting at the White House between President Trump and President Zelensky was nothing less than disheartening.   

Some of the things that were said were unreasonable, and we and our European allies have distanced ourselves from those remarks.

The meeting highlighted that there are different perspectives on the war and not least on how it can and should be brought to an end.

And it is worth keeping in mind: Allied unity has been crucial for maintaining support to Ukraine. It will have serious ramifications if this unity now splinters.

For us.

For Europe.

But first and foremost, for Ukraine.

We must do our part to prevent this from happening.

We must work to keep the US engaged and on board.

To ensure that the US continues to support Ukraine in its fight to defend itself.

And to ensure that the US contributes to the effort to promote a just and enduring peace.

 

To our friends in the US, I would like to say that we understand the desire to secure a rapid end to this war.

Norway, too, wants peace. And no one wants peace more than Ukraine. Ukrainians have been living with the war for more than 1 000 days.

None of us is unaffected by the deeply tragic human consequences of this war.

And a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is a highly dangerous scenario.

We agree with President Trump that this must be prevented.

At the same time, Mr President, we must not be naive in our dealings with the Russian regime.

Russia is the aggressor party.

A weak ceasefire will not lead to lasting peace.

And it will not be in the interests of the US or Europe.

Moreover, it must be reiterated that the fastest way to achieve peace is for Russia, which started and is responsible for the war, to withdraw from Ukraine.

Mr President,

Peace in Europe requires strength.

Otherwise, a pause in the hostilities will only be used for military regrouping and rearmament.

And sooner or later the war will resume at full force. And other countries will find themselves under threat.

And the basic reality is this: a security guarantee for Ukraine will be far stronger and more credible if the US is involved.  

The signals we have received this week of a pause in US military support and intelligence-sharing are deeply regrettable.

I would like to commend President Zelensky for extending a hand. And the leaders of France and the UK, who are making use of their direct contact with the new administration.  

I hope that this will lead to cooperation between the US and Ukraine being resumed.

We must work together.

We must find solutions together.

And Europe must unite and organise itself effectively.

This is the approach the Norwegian Government is taking.

 

The meeting in London last Sunday was crucial, Mr President.

Europe in this context encompasses a diverse range of countries: the 27 EU member states, as well as Turkey, the UK, Norway, Iceland – and even Canada.

The UK and France are now leading the effort:

To unite Europe behind an increase in support for Ukraine.

And to coordinate European contributions to a joint peace plan.

A plan that addresses the complexities of the situation.

A plan that involves the participation of all the parties, that holds Russia to account, and that extends over several phases.

The main thing now is to create the conditions for negotiations.

We will continue to provide financial, military and humanitarian support to enable Ukraine to negotiate from the strongest possible position.

And then, the terms of a ceasefire will have to be worked out.

Should it apply to the whole country or just to specific areas?

What kind of confidence-building measures could the parties agree on?

And what needs to be done to move on to the decisive phase, which must be a proper peace process, where the parties discuss the core questions:

Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.  

The status of territories, refugees and prisoners.

Reconstruction.

Sanctions.

The role of the international community.

To name a few of the key issues.

This work is essential. And it must be done in the right way.

Norway is now providing input to Ukraine and our allies in connection with the development of such a plan.

We are cooperating closely with the other Nordic and Baltic countries, and coordinating our efforts with the UK and France.

We are also maintaining close contact with those who look set to form the new government in Germany.

Today, EU leaders are meeting again to discuss how to increase European defence spending. The aim is to strengthen Europe’s own defence capabilities and discuss continued support to Ukraine.  

Together with a number of other countries including the UK, Canada, Turkey and Ukraine, I will be meeting the EU leadership tomorrow morning to continue discussions on coordinating the collective European effort.

These are also countries we are working more closely with to strengthen the European component of NATO.

 

A stronger effort from an expanded European community can only be positive for Norway, Mr President.

A peace settlement will be of crucial importance to the future security of our continent.

This is why a peace process must include Europe, the whole of Europe.

Europe has legitimate interests in such a process, and will – in all circumstances – be expected to contribute to the implementation of any agreement.

Mr President,

Finally, under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, Norway has committed to providing NOK 155 billion in the period from 2023 until the end of 2030.

This is a substantial amount.

It has been used among other things for air defence equipment, energy measures, medical evacuation, training of Ukrainian personnel and other important contributions to the Ukrainian war effort. 

We have done as we promised.

We have given priority to Ukraine’s needs. 

We have delivered support without unnecessary delays.  

And at the same time, we have attached importance to ensuring that the funds we provide are used as intended, and that our control systems are as effective as possible.

Without Allied support, the war could long ago have had a very different outcome.

The funding we have provided under the Nansen Support Programme has helped to save lives and helped Ukraine to stand its ground.

 

In November, all the parties in the Storting agreed to increase Norway’s allocation for 2025 to NOK 35 billion.  

I said at the time, on behalf of the Government, that we would be presenting a proposal to increase our support in due course if we saw a need for it.

Since then, the political circumstances have changed.

Now, there is a clear need.

We will therefore be proposing a further substantial increase in our support to Ukraine.

Together with our European allies, we will do more.

Norway has two main objectives in increasing its allocation:

First, to support Ukraine in its legitimate fight to defend itself. Ukraine must be able to withstand Russia’s attacks. The country is under severe pressure.

That is why we will focus our increased support on strengthening Ukraine’s military power as effectively and rapidly as possible.

Second, we will actively support the European peace plan that is currently being developed.

We may be at the start of a new phase of the war.

We may soon see a ceasefire.

In order for it to hold, Ukraine will need to be in a position of strength. There will be a need for security guarantees and Ukraine will have to strengthen its defence capabilities.

This will require resources.

I look forward to discussing how best we can contribute in more detail with the parties here in the Storting this afternoon.

I hope that we can once again reach agreement on a new funding framework.

In this way we will preserve what has been the Nansen Support Programme’s unique strength – namely the broad-based, cross-party support for Norway’s long-term support for Ukraine.

Mr President,

Last Monday, I visited Ukraine for the third time since the war started.

It was moving to be back there and to see a country and a people that are fighting for their freedom and independence.

A country where air-raid sirens blare every night. Where drones come in swarms and the bombs rain down with no let-up.

Despite all this, the people we met there, for instance when President Zelensky took us around Kyiv, still smiled, greeting us with friendliness and dignity.   

There is the same sense of gratitude that I encounter when I meet Ukrainians in Norway, as I recently did in Mo i Rana and on the island of Lovund far off the Helgeland coast. 

During my visit to Ukraine, it was also inspiring to meet Norwegians working for Norway in Kyiv.

Norwegian women and men who have chosen to go there, in service to Norway, and who are putting their own lives on the line.

We have comprehensive security measures in place, but in a war situation it is impossible to entirely eliminate the risk of our people being harmed.

I would therefore like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who take on these assignments on behalf of us all.

This includes all those working for humanitarian and civil society organisations and companies. I would like in particular to highlight the efforts of representatives of the Norwegian media, who report from the frontlines and from Ukrainian society.

They all deserve our gratitude and recognition.

Thank you, Mr President.