– We believe that it is important in principle to help a country that is threatened by invasion in modern Europe.
This is what Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) says to NRK when asked about Norwegian arms support to Ukraine.
– You have the right to practice self-defense under international law. And you also have the right to get help for self-defense.
– We make the assessment continuously
– So when you say that, can Ukraine expect more weapons from Norway?
– We have taken the principled stand, and this war continues. We also get to make assessments in Norway in relation to what we can contribute.
The Norwegian Prime Minister thus does not rule out further arms support to the country, but says it must be assessed on the basis of Norway’s own needs.
– Norway does not have large surplus stocks of weapons that we have ready for this purpose. We mostly have weapons that are planned for the defense of Norway. In the situation we are in now, there is also a consideration we must take, says Støre, but adds:
– But we have shown that we have been able to find weapons that are needed in the defense when there is an invasion. We make that assessment continuously – I can confirm that.
A Hercules aircraft with 2,000 Norwegian anti-tank missiles of the type M72 was flown off on 3 March with help to Ukraine.
Photo: Kristine Kjendalen / NRK
–
Ukraine wants more
Norway sent in March 2000 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.
Many European countries have sent weapons, but Ukraine is asking for more.
– The more weapons we get, and the earlier they come to Ukraine, the more lives will be saved.
This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba earlier in April.
Then the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to the Norwegian Parliament At the end of March, he was specific on what weapons Ukraine needs.
Støre emphasizes that Norway has already made a decision that it is right to support Ukraine.
– From the beginning of the war, we have had this thorough question up for consideration, and concluded that it is right to support a country that is in self-defense in Europe. We have contributed military equipment, with weapons.
– Then there is also a discretion around these issues, for reasons that I think people understand.
–
