Secure Norway’s Future—Supercharge Support for Ukraine
Donald Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine isn’t just a distant foreign policy crisis—it is an immediate threat to Norway’s own security.
(Foto: prosjektutsyn.no)
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(This text is a translation of my column in Filter Nyheter, and is a contribution to the Norwegian public debate about support for Ukraine)
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Pressure is mounting from the international community, and Norway must now step up and dramatically increase its support for Ukraine before it’s too late.
Recently, after meeting President Zelensky, the Trump administration unveiled its true colors: the United States has chosen to parrot Russia’s narrative and demand that Ukraine surrender on Putin’s terms—terms which amount to nothing less than total capitulation.
Meanwhile, Russia’s ever-more brazen imperial ambitions are destabilizing Europe as a whole, and putting Norway directly in the line of fire. European intelligence services are clear: the risk of the war spilling over into NATO territory is increasing, and Norway’s current efforts are nowhere near enough to ensure national security.
Norway’s survival as a small, liberal democracy has always rested on two pillars: NATO’s security guarantees and the international rule of law anchored in the UN Charter. Today, both are crumbling.
Trump’s repeated assaults on Article 5 have gutted NATO’s deterrence, destroying the credibility of the alliance. Who really believes that President Trump would come to Norway’s rescue if Russia, for instance, decided to land five hundred soldiers on Svalbard? In truth, NATO is a shell—a deterrent in name only.
At the same time, Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine is tearing the fabric of the rules-based order. This is not just another distant conflict: Russia is openly flouting every international norm, perpetrating war crimes and genocide on a scale unseen in Europe since World War II. If this aggression is rewarded, the international system collapses, ushering in a new era where ‘might makes right’—a return to the darkness our grandparents fought so hard to dispel.
For nine months, Washington’s policy has been unambiguous: no arms, no meaningful sanctions, blame Ukraine for the war, rehabilitate Putin, and back authoritarian regimes at the UN.
These are not the actions of an ally—they are a calculated effort to weaken Europe, fracture Western unity, and embolden Moscow. The plain truth:
The Trump administration will never stand with Ukraine.
It’s time to abandon illusions about America’s intentions. Norway cannot afford to base its future on wishful thinking or obsolete alliances. The Trump administration is not a partner—it is pursuing a strategy aligned with Kremlin interests. Liberal democracy, not just in Ukraine, but everywhere, is the real enemy of the new Washington.
In light of this, the reality is stark. Norway has already given more aid than most, but our support is a drop in the bucket compared to what’s needed. Effect—not intention—is what counts. If Ukraine falls, Norway’s security and the future of European democracy are at risk. We cannot allow Russia’s imperial theft to stand, or the international system we rely on will crumble.
Norway is not powerless. With our sovereign wealth fund at historic highs, we can afford to do what history demands: donate 100 billion USD—without risking our own prosperity. Such a decision would not only tip the scales on the battlefield and secure the rules-based order, but likely land Norway’s leaders in Oslo with the next Nobel Peace Prize.
The war is about to enter its fifth year. Time for debate is over. Only action can secure Norway’s future—and the survival of democracy in Europe.