Does Norway dare to opt out of boats from the USA? The purchase of expensive new frigates could be an extremely sensitive issue.
This is what commentator Halvor Hegtun writes in Aftenposten. The question is whether Norway really wants to get closer to the EU, or whether it should focus on more traditional allies, such as the UK and especially the US.
Four countries are competing to win the battle for the navy’s planned purchase of five frigates at a total cost in the region of NOK 130-150 billion ($12-13 billion), the most expensive single purchase of defence equipment ever.
How will finance minister and former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg (Ap) maintain his good relationship with US President Donald Trump?
The same goes for the new defence minister Tore O. Sandvik (Ap). Trump is unlikely to like it if Norway opts out of American frigates.
The other competitors have been on the prowl. The possibility of Norway opting for British frigates was probably an important reason why British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Bergen and the Haakonsvern naval base in December.
The latest major purchases of defence equipment in recent years have mainly been bought from Germany and the US. The Type 26 frigates offered by the UK appear to have raised doubts about their reliability and maintenance programme.
The French Naval Group is tempting customers with early delivery of its FDI frigates, one vessel a year starting in 2029. The French boats are also the smallest and perhaps least labour-intensive in the competition.
This is important for the Norwegian Navy, which lacks enough skilled sailors.
But the US Constellation frigates are supplied by Fincantieri, which is headquartered in Trieste, Italy, and owns Norwegian Vard. This is a carrot for Norway, which may be able to negotiate that the hulls of the frigates are built in our country.
For private individuals, buying a boat is a pleasant thing. But scrapping offers from close allies in a huge defence deal isn’t much fun for anyone.
Trump hasn’t spoken out on the matter, but there’s good reason to believe he won’t react favourably if our government chooses suppliers from other countries.
With the government’s desired approach to the EU, with the support of the Conservatives of course, it is certainly possible that the choice will end up with German or French frigates.
We can only hope that the Labour government (Arbeiderpartiet) understands that without the US as an ally, Norway will be totally defenceless.
