Norway’s Defence Minister, Tore O. Sandvik, affirmed that the United States remains committed to European defence, but emphasized that Europe must contribute more financially to ensure the U.S. can uphold its security commitments.
In an interview on Tuesday, Sandvik stressed that while American support for Europe’s defence has been questioned, particularly due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for NATO countries to increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP (up from the current 2% target), he believes the U.S. remains steadfast in its support of NATO and Article 5, which guarantees collective security.
Sandvik stated that both U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump have confirmed their commitment to Europe’s defence in discussions with European leaders, reiterating that the U.S. stands behind NATO’s collective security principle. However, he also warned that Europe needs to take greater responsibility for its own security to ensure the U.S. can continue to meet its obligations.
This statement comes amid tensions over U.S. defence spending and concerns about the U.S. position on Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression. The recent leak of disparaging remarks by top Trump administration officials about Europe’s financial contributions to defence has added further strain, with Vice President JD Vance and Hegseth being quoted as expressing frustration over Europe’s reliance on U.S. support.
Sandvik highlighted Norway’s strategic role in NATO, especially in monitoring the North Atlantic and its proximity to Russian military installations on the Kola Peninsula. He reassured that Norway maintains a strong dialogue with the U.S. on this critical collaboration.
Norway has met the NATO 2% defence spending target and is planning to double its defence spending by 2036 to exceed at least 3% of GDP. Sandvik noted that Norway’s long-term defence plans, which began just two months ago, are already being revised due to emerging needs.
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