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OSLO – Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has issued a sharp rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent assertions regarding NATO, describing the claim that the United States receives “nothing” from the alliance as “plain wrong.”
Speaking at the Oslo Security Conference on Monday, Støre pushed back against the transactional view of collective security recently voiced by the American president at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Prime Minister emphasized that NATO is built on mutual benefit and shared strategic interests rather than being a “charity” or a one-sided bargain.
A Rejection of Transactional Diplomacy
The confrontation follows comments from President Trump suggesting that European allies have historically exploited U.S. military protection without providing reciprocal value.
“It rings completely false when the American president stands in Davos saying that we have given everything to NATO and NATO gives nothing in return,” Støre told the audience. “It is wrong. It’s plain wrong.”
Støre highlighted that the security architecture of the West is grounded in collective defense, a system he argued protects American interests just as much as European ones. He cited recent geopolitical pressures, including U.S. tariff threats and previous discussions regarding Greenland, as evidence of a shifting global order where traditional alliances are being tested by transactional politics.
Strengthening the European Pillar
In light of the mounting friction with Washington, Støre called for a “sober reassessment” of Europe’s defense strategy. He urged European nations to deepen their cooperation on security, trade, and defense to ensure regional stability regardless of the political climate in the United States.
“We will aim to spend wisely on defense, so it really fits into these regional plans,” Støre stated. He specifically noted the importance of strategic partnerships with the United Kingdom and emphasized that the European Union remains “critical” to Norway’s security, despite Norway not being a member of the bloc.
The Math of Interdependence
The Prime Minister also provided a stark reminder of the alliance’s current structure. While European strategic autonomy is a growing priority, Støre noted that EU member states currently account for only about 20 percent of NATO’s military capacity. The remaining 80 percent is provided by non-EU allies, including the U.S., Canada, Türkiye, the UK, and Norway itself.
The address underscores a growing sentiment among European leaders that they must prepare for a more independent security future as the rhetoric from Washington continues to challenge the foundational principles of the 75-year-old alliance.