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In 1950, the United States and Norway signed the Agreement for Mutual Defense Assistance between Norway and the United States.
Norway and the United States are now working to “modernize” this agreement. This is confirmed by Lars Gjemble, press officer at the Ministry of Defense.
The cooperation agreement led Norway to receive 300 fighter jets and 8,000 military vehicles for free during the Cold War.
Until the final agreement in 1996, the value of US arms aid to Norway was NOK 83 billion.
I will not say anything about the content.
The Defense Ministry will not say anything about why this agreement is being negotiated now, nor will it declare anything about the content of the negotiations.
For the rest, the Ministry has very little information.
– No date has been set for full negotiation between the United States and Norway. It is too early to say anything more about the process now, says Lars Gjemble.
When the agreement between the United States and Norway was signed in 1950, Norway wanted to strengthen the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces then needed arms assistance from abroad.
For the United States, it was about securing American security interests.
America’s much better-known civilian support for Norway, Marshall’s aid, was considerably less than military support. Marshall’s aid to Norway was NOK 60 billion.
The press officer Lars Gjemble of the Ministry of Defense will not say anything about what is being negotiated between Norway and the United States:
Photo: Junge, Heiko / Scanpix
US forces in Norway
The US news service Breaking Defense writes that there may be changes in Pentagon policy towards Norway and the High North.
The United States and Norway are said to have accelerated long-term negotiations to renew bilateral cooperation, without saying why.
The negotiations may provide new regulations for US forces in Norway.
A new agreement will also regulate bilateral military cooperation.
The Department of Defense does not wish to comment specifically on the US information.
Rødt’s parliamentary representative, Bjørnar Moxnes, believes that closer military cooperation with the United States is the wrong path for Norway.
Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB
Bakke-Jensen must answer the Storting
Rødt’s parliamentary representative, Bjørnar Moxnes, demands that Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen inform the Storting in writing.
Moxnes believes that the United States is conducting an increasingly bitter rivalry of great powers in neighboring areas of Norway.
Bjørnar Moxnes fears that a new agreement will lead to changes in Norwegian security policy in conflict with Norwegian interests.
He also responds that he has not been aware of the negotiations.
– Unfortunately, we see time and again that the government prioritizes loyalty to the United States over openness and democracy. In general, it should be evident that the Storting is informed about all kinds of agreements that have an impact on Norwegian security policy, says Moxnes.
Norway and the United States have several bilateral military agreements.
Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen must reply to the Storting within six working days.
