Norway, like pretty much all countries, has a set of rules about the export of products of its surprisingly big defense industry. Those rules exist so that this country could export its weapons and ammunition without accidentally becoming a party to an ongoing conflict and would not sell its weapons to dangerous non-state organizations. For example, Norway has stipulated that its defense industry cannot transfer weapons to countries at war. Like Ukraine
But now, starting January 1, 2024, the Norwegian government allows direct sales of weapons and other defense industry products to Ukraine.
The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is one of those Norwegian weapons that could be sold directly to Ukraine now. Image credit: Department of Defense via Wikimedia
“In the extraordinary security situation resulting from Russia’s war of aggression, it is crucial that we continue to support Ukraine. Support for Ukraine is important for Norwegian and European security. We must plan for the possibility that the illegal war of aggression may be prolonged. The Government has therefore decided to permit direct sales of weapons and defense-related products from the Norwegian defense industry to Ukraine,” said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
It is noted that this policy change means that Norwegian companies can apply to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an export license for the direct sale of arms and other defense products to Ukraine.
Previously, this was not allowed because Ukraine is involved in an active armed conflict and only the Norwegian government itself could supply arms and ammunition to it, not the country’s defense industry companies. That is, the commercial sale of weapons was not possible at all due to a policy established as far back as 1959.
That policy, by the way, has not changed now – Norway simply made an exception for Ukraine due to these extraordinary circumstances, which are the Russian invasion. Other countries at war will not yet be able to buy weapons directly from Norwegian companies.
Export licenses for direct sales of defense products to Ukraine will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All applications will be carefully evaluated to ensure that guns do not end up in the wrong hands. Norway and NATO need to make sure that sensitive technologies don’t end up in the hands of Russia if these weapons end up being captured on a battlefield.
You’ve never heard of the Norwegian defense industry? Well, it is quite rich, actually. You might have heard of NASAMS air defense systems. This name is an acronym – NASAMS stands for Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.
The Naval Strike Missile (NSM), used by Norway, Poland, Malaysia, Germany, the United States, Japan, Romania, Canada, Australia and Spain, was originally called Nytt sjømålsmissil, because it is also Norwegian. Norway also makes the Protector RWS, which is a remotely controlled weapons station – basically, a remote turret for various machine guns and missiles.
All of these products are made by the Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace company, but there are smaller companies too and now they will be looking into selling their stuff to Ukraine.
Source: Regjeringen.no