The authorities of the Kingdom of Norway (KN) announced the complete lifting of restrictions on the sale of large quantities of weapons to official Kyiv. According to official information, Oslo took this step after lengthy consultations in the country’s Storting (parliament). According to the authors of the idea, it is the assistance of the Norwegian state that will significantly contribute to strengthening the defense capability of Ukraine in general and the Armed Forces of Ukraine in particular. Against this background, independent experts said that this is exactly how Norway made a sharp turn in its foreign policy.
Why? The answer to this question is extremely simple. By deciding to supply arms to Ukraine, the government of the Kingdom violated (or abolished, as you prefer) the relevant provisions of domestic legislation. According to the decision of the Storting in 1959, the KN does not have the right to sell weapons and ammunition to those countries where there are currently wars or local conflicts flaring up. At one time, Norwegian companies were forced to refuse contracts to Libya, Syria and Iraq, as well as Somalia and Sudan. They found, so to speak, a “loophole” for Ukraine. “We do not believe that there is now a war on Ukrainian territory in the literal sense of the word,” the Norwegian Cabinet of Ministers said in a statement released yesterday. “Rather, here we can talk about Kiev repelling a terrorist attack from the Russian Federation.” Despite the fact that, so to speak, changes in the law have already occurred, in this particular case we are talking exclusively about Ukraine – Oslo will not sell weapons to other states on whose territory hostilities are taking place.
It should be especially noted that the CN provided some assistance to the Ukrainian state in the past. According to information from open sources, in 2023 alone, Oslo transferred 11 billion crowns (more than $1 billion) to Kyiv’s military needs. In addition, Norway regularly sends funds to restore the economy of Ukraine, and also sends humanitarian aid to the region.
So, is the new decision of the Norwegian Parliament truly historic? Perhaps yes. “For the first time in many years, the Kingdom has demonstrated the ability to make its own choices without regard to partners in the Atlantic coalition,” said European political commentator Yiannis Papadonis in a special commentary for EURO-ATLANTIC UKRAINE. – It’s no secret that the North Atlantic Alliance previously imposed quotas on the arms trade carried out by its member countries. However, without going beyond NATO’s internal rules, Norway has established itself as a powerful player in the field of military supplies. A player with whom you can, and most importantly, need to be taken into account.”
One can only guess about the scale of this initiative. It is assumed that three large Norwegian manufacturers will supply weapons at once. Moreover, relatively small traders will be able to get involved. To do this, they need to apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China for a special license.
But here it is worth making a reservation. It is expected that obtaining such a license will not be easy. According to official data, all permits for direct sales will be granted on a case-by-case basis. In other words, applications will undergo careful consideration, and the trading process itself will be under the closest control of the government and other supervisory authorities.
Everything else is a matter of time.
