NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on Friday (6 September 2024), to discuss continued support to strengthen Ukraine's defences.
Mr Stoltenberg praised Norway's significant role in the Alliance, including its contributions to NATO's multinational battlegroup in Lithuania, NATO's air-policing missions, and Norway's increased defence spending. "Norway will reach, and actually exceed, the 2% NATO guideline on defence spending and according to the long-term plan for defence, Norway will further increase significantly defence spending over the coming years," he said.
The Secretary General also welcomed Norway's long-term commitment to Ukraine, indicating that "Norway has provided advanced air defence, F-16 fighters and other cutting-edge capabilities". He called on all Allies "to continue their vital support, especially in this difficult phase", highlighting that the quickest way to end the war is to provide weapons to Ukraine. "President Putin must realise that he cannot win on the battlefield but must accept a just and lasting peace where Ukraine prevails as a sovereign and independent nation," he said. In addition, the Secretary General called on China to stop supporting Russia's illegal war, saying that "China cannot continue to fuel the largest military conflict in Europe without this impacting Beijing's interests and reputation."
At the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting on 28 August 2024, Allies strongly condemned Russia's indiscriminate strikes and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen Ukraine's defences. "Ukraine has the right to defend itself. And according to international law, this right does not end at the border," said the Secretary General.
During his visit to Norway, the Secretary General also met with King Harald V in Oslo on Friday, and participated in an event organized by the Norwegian Atlantic Committee at the Oslo City Hall on Thursday (5 September 2024).
