Norway's leader counters Trump, defends NATO's value to the US

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has publicly contested recent comments by former US President Donald Trump that the United States derives no benefit from the NATO alliance. Addressing the Oslo Security Conference on Monday, Store labeled Trump's assertion as fundamentally incorrect, framing the transatlantic pact as a strategic arrangement rooted in shared national interests.

A Rebuttal Based on Strategic Interest

“It rings completely false when the American President stands in Davos saying that we have given everything to NATO and NATO gives nothing in return. It is wrong. It's plain wrong,” Store stated. He emphasized that the principle of collective security within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is “not a charity” but is instead “made out of self-interest,” implying substantial returns for all members, including the US.

Call for European Strategic Depth

In his remarks, the Norwegian leader pointed to a changing global landscape, illustrated by what he termed political tools like US tariff threats against allies. In response, he advocated for a significant deepening of European cooperation across security, defense, and trade domains. This includes a strategic reassessment of the United States' role in European defense architecture while bolstering partnerships with key non-EU NATO allies.

The Critical Role of Non-EU NATO Members

Store highlighted the vital military contribution of nations outside the European Union to the alliance's overall strength. “EU member states represent 20% of NATO's military capacity. 80% is non-EU: US, Canada, Türkiye, UK, Norway,” he noted, underscoring the indispensable role of these partners. His comments served to affirm the continued importance of a broad coalition, including Türkiye, in maintaining the alliance's defensive credibility.