Norway has announced a massive increase in financial aid to Ukraine, more than doubling its planned support for 2024 in response to what Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the most serious security threat Norway has faced in 80 years.
Speaking on March 6, Støre revealed that the Norwegian government and opposition leaders had agreed to raise Ukraine’s funding to 85 billion Norwegian crowns ($7.83 billion)—a sharp increase from the 35 billion crowns ($3.23 billion) initially planned in November 2023.
"We now face the most serious security situation for our country since World War II," Støre told Reuters.
Norway’s opposition Conservative Party has backed the funding increase and signaled that even further aid could be considered later in the year. The move aligns with broader European efforts to strengthen defense capabilities, as leaders across the continent respond to escalating security concerns.
The announcement coincided with the European Union’s approval of the European Commission’s €800 billion plan to bolster regional defense.
Norway’s decision comes amid growing uncertainty about U.S. support for Ukraine, following Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid and the temporary halt of intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.
With Washington’s commitment in doubt, European nations—including Norway—are stepping up efforts to ensure Ukraine continues to receive the resources needed to defend itself against Russia.
