On 20 June 2025, in the run-up to the NATO Summit in The Hague on 24-25 June, the Norwegian government was among the first NATO allies to commit to allocating 5% of GDP to defence-related expenditures.
“The world has become more dangerous and more unpredictable. Europe must shoulder greater responsibility for its own security. We must do more to keep our country secure and safe, and to contribute to our collective security together with our Allies in NATO,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated in an official government press release.
The goal among the NATO allies to each spend 5% of GDP on defence was agreed just prior to the summit and is being confirmed by the allies as they meet at The Hague, where a deadline for when the allies are to reach the 5% target will be established.
“The commitment we are now making is in line with the key priorities set out in the National Security Strategy, where we have stated clearly that we must rapidly strengthen our defence capability and enhance the resilience of Norwegian society. We are now following this up in co-operation with our Allies in NATO. Europe must shoulder greater responsibility for its own security, and we will do our part,” said Støre.
Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O Sandvik added, “Russia poses a significant, long-term threat to our security. To address this threat the NATO defence ministers agreed at a meeting in June on a new set of capability targets: the most ambitious targets NATO has had since the Cold War. If we are to ensure that NATO can meet the needs identified in its defence plans and fulfil its core tasks in peacetime, each member country must substantially increase its defence spending.”
Norway intends to reach the 5% of GDP target by allocating 3.5 % of GDP to core defence expenditure under the current agreed definition and 1.5 % of GDP to defence and security-related investment in the civilian sector to support military capabilities and increase resilience.
Current estimates show that Norway will spend 3.3 % of its GDP on defence in 2025. This includes Norway’s military support to Ukraine.
the NATO summit in The Hague on 24 June 2025. Prior to the summit Norway committed to spending 5% of GDP on defence. [Norwegian Armed Forces]
![The European Super RAP developed by NATO’s ACCS is shared with NATO’s Allied Air Command headquarters in Ramstein, western Germany. Two CAOCS, controlling NATO airspace above northern and southern Europe, generate these RAPs. [NATO]](https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NATO-Allied-Air-Command-NATO-Kopie-218x150.jpg "Connect-4")
