NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has praised Norway for the country's growing contributions to the alliance's defence and its support for Ukraine. The statement came following a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Brussels on 11 June, where preparations for the NATO Summit in Ankara were the main focus.
Rutte highlighted Norway's participation in NATO's air surveillance, contributions to the alliance's forward land forces, and its hosting of major exercises in the Arctic and the North Atlantic.
- The Arctic and the High North are becoming increasingly strategically important to our security. Norway's expertise and leadership are crucial to NATO's posture in the region, Rutte said according to NATO.
He also noted that Norway's defence spending exceeded three per cent of GDP last year.
- That is truly impressive and exactly what we need to see across the alliance, Rutte said.
According to NATO, the leaders also discussed support for Ukraine. The Secretary General highlighted Norway's contributions since Russia's full-scale invasion and welcomed the recently announced Norwegian support for the development and procurement of maritime drone systems for Ukraine.
- This will help strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself and sustain the fight against Russian aggression, Rutte said.
In a separate press release from the Norwegian government, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasised that cooperation within NATO and with the EU has become more important than ever.
- NATO and the EU are our most important partners as we work to build a stronger and safer Norway and Europe, Støre said.
In meetings with, among others, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, discussions covered European security, resilience, Ukraine, and the Arctic. Støre also stressed that Europe must take greater responsibility within NATO.
- Norway is taking responsibility at a time when Europe must rearm. We take burden-sharing extremely seriously by strengthening defence capabilities, increasing defence investments, and building greater industrial capacity. This is necessary to stand firm against a more dangerous Russia, Støre said.
According to the Norwegian government, Støre and Rutte also discussed NATO's activities in the north, including the Arctic Sentry exercise, as well as continued support for Ukraine.
- Norway's support for Ukraine is an investment in our own security. Ukraine's fight in defence of itself is crucial to Europe's future, Støre said.