EU-Norway: Joint Press release on the 5th Security and Defence Dialogue

On 21 April, the European Union and Norway held their fifth Security and Defence Dialogue, in Oslo.

In the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and Russia as a direct threat to European security, as well as unfolding global events, it is essential to strengthen the EU-Norway Security and Defence Partnership (SDP).

The EU and Norway reaffirmed their commitment to increasing assistance to Ukraine, including through the EU's €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan and Norway's substantial bilateral assistance and contribution to the European Peace Facility to bolster Ukraine's armed forces and access to ammunition. We will continue strengthening Ukraine's resilience, enhancing security commitments, as well as deterring Russia and holding it accountable for its aggression.

As part of the implementation of the SDP, both sides focused on cooperation on countering hybrid and cyber threats, contribution to missions and operations under the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, defence-industrial cooperation, maritime security as well as preparedness and resilience.

Ahead of this Dialogue, on 20 April, together with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, we successfully conducted a Hybrid Table-Top Exercise, based on an Arctic security scenario and testing our responses to hybrid threats.

We marked a significant milestone in our space cooperation with the signing on 26 March of an Agreement on Norway's participation in the EU's Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) programme and the Secure Connectivity Programme, IRIS.

The EU welcomed Norway's contribution to EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, the EU's maritime security operation in the Red Sea, which is key in safeguarding maritime security, protecting freedom of navigation, and upholding international law in a region critical to global trade.

We commended the increasing cooperation between the EU and Norway on military mobility as well as Norway's participation in PESCO relevant projects and cooperation with EDA on this subject.

We welcomed the recent launch of our bilateral dialogue on mediation and reaffirmed continued EU participation in the Oslo Forum.

We agreed to reinforce our preparedness to tackle evolving security risks, including in the Arctic region, and enhance our cooperation on critical sectors needed for civil-military interaction. Looking ahead, we are pleased that the first meeting of our EU-Norway Arctic Dialogue will take place in Spring 2026, to address challenges and opportunities in the High North.

The meeting was co-chaired by Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defence at the European External Action Service, and Eivind Vad Petersson, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.