OSLO — Norway announced an additional $12 billion in defense spending in March 2024. This increase is part of a larger plan to allocate $167 billion for defense between 2025 and 2036, outlined in Norway's Long-term Defence Plan. As a founding member of NATO with a population of just under six million, the nation has seen its political parties support increased military spending and continued support for Ukraine.

The spending increase is projected to cause Norway's defense spending to exceed 3.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product by 2035. Norway possesses the Government Pension Fund Global, a sovereign wealth fund valued at over two trillion dollars, and Norwegian law permits the government to use up to three percent of this fund to support the federal budget.

As part of its military modernization efforts, the Norwegian Navy plans to retire existing vessel classes, including Ula-class submarines, and adopt standardized ocean-going and coastal patrol classes over the next decade. Norway is purchasing 212CD submarines from Germany and Type 26 anti-submarine frigates from the United Kingdom. The purchase of Type 26 frigates is part of a £10 billion strategic partnership between Norway and the United Kingdom.

Norwegian crews operating the new 212CD submarines will participate in cross-training with German crews, and English will serve as the common language within these vessels. Similarly, Norwegian crews for the Type 26 frigates will undergo cross-training with British crews. The Kola Peninsula, which contains Russian bases holding the largest concentration of nuclear weapons, is located 10 kilometers from the Norwegian border.