Norway has reaffirmed it will not allow nuclear weapons on its soil, despite ongoing debates among NATO allies about nuclear deterrence. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store clarified the country’s position during a meeting in Oslo. The announcement comes as other Nordic countries consider different approaches to nuclear policy.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stated that Norway’s security remains anchored in NATO’s nuclear deterrence, but the country will not host nuclear arms. At a press conference with Nordic leaders and Canada, Store addressed questions about possible changes to Norway’s nuclear stance.
“We are not changing legislation. We don’t have to. We have our clear policy. There will be no stationing of nuclear weapons in Norway,”
he said. Store also mentioned that Oslo is open to discussions with France about strategic cooperation, referencing French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent proposals.
Store emphasized that any new initiatives must not undermine NATO’s current nuclear policy. He indicated that while dialogue is possible, Norway’s established position remains unchanged.
While Norway maintains its policy, Sweden and Denmark have signaled openness to hosting nuclear weapons if required. Their defense officials have publicly stated a willingness to consider such deployments under certain circumstances. This divergence highlights differing security calculations among Nordic NATO members.
Finland has also entered the debate, with its government announcing plans to seek legislative changes that could allow nuclear weapons on Finnish territory. However, Helsinki has since clarified that it does not intend to host such weapons and that NATO has no immediate plans for deployment in Finland.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently outlined a new nuclear strategy, including the possibility of temporarily deploying French strategic bombers in allied NATO countries. Macron’s speech signaled a shift in France’s approach to nuclear deterrence within the alliance.
Russia has responded critically to these developments, particularly Finland’s legislative moves. Moscow warned that such steps could increase tensions in Europe.
“an escalation of tensions on the European continent.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that if Finland were to deploy nuclear weapons, Russia would
“take appropriate measures.”
Moscow has repeatedly stated it does not threaten European nations but will target its nuclear arsenal at any country hosting weapons aimed at Russia.
These discussions are taking place as Europe reassesses its security landscape following the expiration of the last major nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the United States. The absence of such agreements has prompted renewed debate about the role of nuclear weapons in European defense.
NATO’s nuclear policy remains a point of contention among member states, with some advocating for a stronger deterrent and others, like Norway, preferring to maintain existing restrictions. The evolving positions of Nordic countries reflect broader uncertainties about the future of nuclear strategy on the continent.