Kenneth J. Braithwaite, US Ambassador to Norway, has in recent months put extra pressure on Norway to spend two percent of GDP on the Armed Forces.
Several parliamentary summits confirm to the Class Struggle that the US ambassador has had meetings both before and after the summer with a clear message that Norway must reach NATO’s top percentile target.
“He is clear and he is not satisfied,” says other deputy chair of the Foreign and Defense Committee, Christian Tybring-Gjedde (Frp).
“They point out that Norway is the only NATO country with a border with Russia that has not reached the goal of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense,” says Tybring-Gjedde.
New in the conversations should have been that an element now reminiscent of ultimatum has been added.
“Now Americans are tougher that this can have consequences. They do not say rightly that they will not help us when a difficult situation arises, but they indicate that we are close to Russia,” says Tybring-Gjedde.
Right-wing Hårek Elvenes says the US is obviously impatient with Norway.
Norway is both a founder of NATO and current leader of the alliance, and is financially capable of meeting these commitments. I have emphasized that it is important for Norway to show leadership and reach the top percentage target well before 2024, Braithwaite writes in a comment.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
