Norway to Buy Frigates from United Kingdom
Norway enters into an £10 billion frigate deal with the United Kingdom, citing security policy considerations. The deal may weaken relations with the United States and create new tensions within NATO. Norway did not enter into a new trade agreement with the United States by the July 31 deadline.
August 30, 2025 | INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
Image: © Royal Navy, lisensiert under Open Government Licence v1.0
Norway buys frigates from the United Kingdom
TV2 reported today that Norway is set to purchase frigates from the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stated that the decision is based on strategic and security policy considerations: there is war in Europe, and tensions between the great powers across the Atlantic are increasing.
Store gives no detailed justification for how buying frigates from the United Kingdom will increase Norwegian security more than if American frigates had been chosen. It is likely that it could have the opposite effect, damaging the defence relationship with the US and thereby the motivation to defend Norway.
No trade agreement between Norway and the US
In an earlier piece here on Samfunn og Politikk, a tip from a reliable source was described: Støre and Stoltenberg are dragging out tariff and mineral negotiations with the US for strategic reasons connected to mineral resources. That was some weeks ago, and Norway has still not concluded an agreement giving better terms than the 15 per cent the US has imposed, which applied from 7 August. There were reportedly hectic negotiations before the deadline expired on 31 July, and active talks were reported the following week. Since then it has been quiet. It may now appear that the US negotiations have stalled, and that one of the reasons could be that Norway has chosen frigates from the United Kingdom.
From government sources, it has been confirmed that negotiations have taken place with the United States on both minerals and military equipment. By choosing frigates from the United Kingdom, Norway now has fewer bargaining chips vis-à-vis Trump. When it comes to minerals, the government plans to implement the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, and therefore does not wish to grant Trump a mineral deal by vetoing the regulation. This gives cause for concern. Europe, including Norway, does not have sufficient mineral resources to supply itself with the raw materials required for the production of defence equipment. The EU has set a target of being 35% self-sufficient by 2030.
Norwegian mineral resources
The government has confirmed that there have been negotiations with the US on both minerals and military equipment. By choosing frigates from the United Kingdom, Norway now has fewer bargaining cards vis-à-vis Trump. As regards minerals, the government plans to introduce the EU's minerals regulation. This may also be one of the reasons why it has not been possible to conclude a trade agreement with the US.
This gives cause for concern. Europe, including Norway, does not have sufficient mineral extraction in the foreseeable future to supply itself with the raw materials needed for the production of defence materiel. The EU has a target of being 35% self-sufficient by 2030, the bulk of which is to come from recycling.
It is hard to see that it serves Norway's security interests to tie itself more closely to the EU when it is at the same time known that Trump and Putin have a relatively good relationship. It appears that Norway no longer recognises that Russia is the greatest enemy, and that Trump expects loyalty.
RELATED ARTICLES
SOURCES
European Union
Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)European Union – EUR-Lex (EU Law Database)
Critical Raw Materials Regulation – Full text (2024/1252)The Norwegian Government
Press release about European Union Critical Raw Materials Act
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