Press conference on strengthening the defence: Norway buys 54 tanks

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Last week, Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) confirmed that Norway will send tanks to Ukraine. Then he would not say anything about how many people were involved. The government has also planned to buy more, although the Chief of Defense does not recommend this. How many tanks they want to buy, and what types, have not been known. This has been a politically charged question. According to what news knows, Norway is buying 54 tanks. It has been between the German Leopard 2A7 and the South Korean K2 Black Panther and it is the German type they will buy. The Minister of Defense is now holding a press conference at Rena camp in Åmot municipality, together with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap), Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp). Purchase of tanks Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) has said that the government is planning to buy more tanks. The Storting approved the purchase last year. The choice has been between the German Leopard 2A7 and the South Korean K2 Black Panther. Defense chief Eirik Kristoffersen said last year that he did not recommend doing this. Then he said that the war in Ukraine has weakened Russia so much that they are not a threat to Norway. That is why he thought it was so important to buy other types of weapons than tanks, according to Dagens Næringsliv. To send tanks to Ukraine It has been discussed whether it will weaken security in Norway to give away tanks. To that, the defense minister has replied that it is important for Norway to stop Putin. Norway has 36 in operational service. The Minister of Defense has not said anything yet about how many they will send to Ukraine. Geir Hågen Karlsen, who is lieutenant colonel at the Norwegian Armed Forces Academy, has previously told news that it is important to send modern tanks. And that they are as similar as possible to those sent by other countries. Germany, the US, Poland and the UK have said they will send tanks. Sweden is open to doing so. The Netherlands and Spain are ready to contribute. France has sent lighter armored vehicles so far. These are tanks of the type Leopard 2A4 Norway will send to the war in Ukraine. Norway has 36 pieces.



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