Defense Commission proposes immediate strengthening of defense budget and increased preparedness for Norway’s security challenges

The Defense Commission proposes an immediate strengthening of the defense budget of NOK 30 billion – plus NOK 40 billion a year for security, defense and preparedness over 10 years.

On top of this, they want a further increase in the budget by NOK 10 billion for additional operating funds, after the period of
extra grants.

– The commission’s assessment is that our defense capability does not correspond to the security situation we find ourselves in today. And far less to the challenge picture that we see is developing, says Knut Storberget, who has led the commission since December 2021.

“It’s serious”, he writes in a column in VG today – and emphasizes the same at the press conference.

He says the Norwegian public has, to a limited extent, internalized the need for a strengthened defense despite a worsening security situation, before the Ukraine war became a wake-up call.

– It is expensive and risky to first prepare for a security policy crisis or war when the crisis or war is here. The time for comprehensive action is now, and it is urgent, he says.

– Do it for those who are young

The commission presents its proposals on Wednesday morning. The recipient is the government in Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp), which commissioned the investigation.

During the presentation of the report, Storberget emphasized to the Minister of Defense that there is a great responsibility both on the commission, but also on the Minister of Defence, towards today’s young people.

– We do it for those who are young today. It is their security, and their security, he says.

Big crack

Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) says Norway is facing the most serious security policy situation since the Second World War.

He says the defense commission’s recommendation will be important for the government’s work, and that they take it very seriously.

– Our relationship with Russia is dramatic and changed, with consequences for our defense plans, he says.

On Tuesday, the government came out and said that it had adopted a plan to increase the defense budget by a total of NOK 11 billion until 2026, in order to reach NATO’s common goal of two percent of the gross national product, GDP, for defense.

Immediate action

But the cross-party commission, which has had members from all the parties in the Storting in addition to academia, believes that the government and the parties in the Storting must go much further:

The commission describes a proposal for a cross-party settlement in the Storting, with a quick decision on a new surface structure for the Navy, an extensive investment in air defense and a stronger land force throughout the country.

In a debate article in VG, Storberget writes that immediate measures are needed to strengthen the Armed Forces’ own capability, by covering critical vulnerabilities and deficiencies, and preparing the Armed Forces for a higher and more demanding level of activity.

– We must get the Defense Forces we already have to work, writes Storberget.

The threat image

The commission describes how the security situation in Norway’s immediate area has changed abruptly over a few years.

** International institutions and norms are weakening.

** The rivalry between China and the USA means that economy, technology and energy have once again become security policy.

** The willingness to use military and non-military means to achieve unacceptable goals is great among state and non-state actors.

– A more complex threat picture in the entire crisis spectrum challenges Norway. A more dangerous Russia, China’s growth and the USA’s turn towards Asia affect Norway’s
security directly. Europe must do more for its own security, and Norway must take its share of the responsibility, writes Storberget in the debate entry.

Need more people

The commission writes that the whole of society must be involved in order to “strengthen our resilience and increase our preparedness and ability to deal with crisis and war”.

Storberget says at the press conference that Norway is in a different era.

– The world of yesterday no longer exists, he says.

The commission proposes that the Norwegian Armed Forces increase the number of employees and conscripts by 20 per cent. Then the Armed Forces’ capacity for internal education must also be increased.

– Information about the threat picture, willingness to defend and defense capability must be given renewed attention and priority. More people need to enter first-time service and young people need to gain more knowledge about security, defense and preparedness in school, writes Storberget, who was Minister of Justice in the Labor Party government when the terror struck Utøya and the government quarter in 2011.