Norway plans record increase in military aid to Ukraine in 2025

The international relations expert, known as Resurgam on his Telegram channel, shared his analysis of Norway's expected increase in aid to Ukraine.

For comparison, the United States allocated $24 billion in direct military aid to Ukraine in 2024 through the PDA, USAI, and FMF programs. If Norway moves forward with this increase, its military aid fund will amount to half of what the U.S. allocated in 2024.

Norwegian parliamentary parties are preparing to put the proposal to a vote, which could happen at any time. The Liberal and Socialist parties have called for an extraordinary parliamentary session to push the decision forward.

While these are opposition parties, the current government lacks a majority, and most pro-government parties also support the increase. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated, “We will soon present a proposal for increased support for Ukraine to parliament.”

Several options are under consideration:

• A proposal from the Liberal and Socialist parties to increase aid by €8.5 billion in 2025.
• A proposal from the Greens to allocate €85 billion to Ukraine (thought highly unlikely).
• Raising the spending limit on the Petroleum Fund, allowing €300-400 billion from Norway’s sovereign wealth fund to be used for defense bonds and Ukraine support.
• A separate proposal from the government, which is expected to be similar to the first option.

"The key takeaway is that there is broad parliamentary consensus on significantly increasing support for Ukraine. Norway’s contribution will also be part of a larger EU aid initiative," Resurgam noted.

An important development ahead of the vote further reinforced this push:

• Forty-seven leading Norwegian economists, analysts, and professors have urged parliament and the government to leverage Norway’s economic strength and dramatically expand aid to Ukraine.
• Among the signatories are party experts, former ministers, and directors of the Norwegian Petroleum Fund, who argue that spending limits on the fund should not be an obstacle.

Their letter states:

“Our political views differ, but we stand together on the fundamental democratic values for which the Ukrainian nation is now fighting desperately. Norway should significantly increase its support for Ukraine for a variety of reasons.”

• Norwegian defense company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, a key manufacturer of ammunition for NASAMS air defense systems, plans to establish a joint production facility in Ukraine.