The arms manufacturers Kongsberg Gruppen and Nammo have been in a difficult situation in recent months because weapons they have helped to make have ended up in the ongoing war in Gaza. In February, it became known that Israeli soldiers use weapons manufactured by Norwegian Nammo, despite the fact that there is a ban on the sale of weapons to Israel. ISRAELI F-35 AIRCRAFT: Israel is currently in the process of receiving 75 F-35 aircraft from the United States. Kongsberg Gruppen is one of several Norwegian companies that contribute to the production of the combat aircraft. Photo: IDF UD: Landed in Israel, via the USA State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eivind Vad Petersson (Ap) told news in February that Nammo weapons may have ended up in Israel via the US authorities. Something that is said to have happened in 2014. – What has probably happened is that the US authorities have resold or donated these weapons to Israel. He claims that these are not Norwegian weapons, even though they are produced by a Norwegian company in which the state is the majority owner. – We do not demand to be asked before we deliver weapons to allies, but it is a tradition for them to ask us anyway before they export further, says State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eivind Vad Petersson. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB Norway does not currently require allies to ask for permission before weapons bought by Norway are sold on. The government wants to change that. – Today we do not demand to be asked before we deliver weapons to allies, but it is a tradition for them to ask us anyway before they further export, says Petersson. The government now wants the NATO countries to be obliged to ask each other for permission before selling weapons on. – Would Norway have said no if the US wanted to sell on Norwegian weapons? – It is a hypothetical situation, but Norwegian politics is very clear that we will not sell weapons to Israel, says the state secretary. Gets applause from Redd Barna – This is great, and a step in the right direction. This is what Mads Harlem, who is a special adviser and lawyer at Redd Barna, says about the government’s work to introduce so-called “end-user declarations” also among allies. Mads Harlem in Save the Children believes it is important to ensure that Norwegian weapons do not end up in the wrong hands. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB Does not want a unilateral Norwegian demand Even if the government now wants a change, it is not appropriate to have a unilateral Norwegian demand for a further export clause. – Such a requirement will affect the export opportunities for the Norwegian arms industry, says the state secretary. Mads Harlem in Save the Children believes that Norway should support such a requirement anyway, regardless of how other countries view the proposal. The NATO alliance currently consists of 32 countries. The government’s aim is that a change must mean that the obligation applies to all countries in the alliance. Photo: SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP – We understand that politicians have to take other considerations into account in relation to the arms industry, but we have a responsibility regardless of what other countries choose to do, says Harlem and adds: – We understand that politicians have to take other considerations into account to the arms industry, but we have a responsibility to prevent what is sold from Norway from being used to commit violations of international law in armed conflict, regardless of what other countries choose to do, says Harlem and adds: – We hope the government gets it done, because this is overtime. Kongsberg Gruppen does not want the introduction of unilateral Norwegian requirements for the sale of weapons. They believe this could have negative consequences for industrial cooperation in NATO Photo: Maria Kommandantvold / DKBU – Must be done jointly with other countries – Introduction of unilateral Norwegian demands could have very negative consequences for industrial cooperation in NATO, says Ronny Lie. Lie is director of communications at Kongsberg Gruppen, and says that predictability and stable framework conditions are absolutely essential for the Norwegian arms industry. – Especially with today’s security policy situation, predictability is more important than ever, he says. In January this year, the government set aside billions of kroner to strengthen the defense industry. One billion goes to Nammo alone. Photo: Petter Berntsen / AFP Record high arms exports According to Statistics Norway, Norwegian exports of arms and ammunition ended at a record high NOK 6.8 billion last year. This was an increase of NOK 2.1 billion from the previous peak in 2022. Figures from Statistics Norway show that the NATO countries are an important market for Norwegian weapons, with the USA being the largest importer. Sales of weapons and ammunition to NATO countries increased last year to NOK 4.3 billion, which accounted for more than 60 per cent of total Norwegian arms exports. The corresponding amount for 2022 was only NOK 1.8 billion. FIGURES FOR 2023: The graph shows that the NATO countries are an important market for Norwegian weapons. Last year, sales of arms and ammunition to NATO countries accounted for more than 60 per cent of total Norwegian arms exports. Photo: Statistics Norway Published 14.06.2024, at 13.21 Updated 14.06.2024, at 13.34
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The government wants allied countries to ask Norway before Norwegian weapons are resold – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
