Armoured vehicles from Nato's rapid reaction force are stationed in Norway for military exercises. AFP
Armoured vehicles from Nato's rapid reaction force are stationed in Norway for military exercises. AFP
Armoured vehicles from Nato's rapid reaction force are stationed in Norway for military exercises. AFP
Armoured vehicles from Nato's rapid reaction force are stationed in Norway for military exercises. AFP

World

Europe

Norway boosts defence spending after Russia's attack on Ukraine

Nordic country plans to strengthen naval presence in far north of Europe

Tim Stickings
Tim Stickings

March 18, 2022

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Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

Norway on Friday became the latest Nato member to announce it would increase military spending to guard against a hostile Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Defence Minister Odd Roger Enoksen said Norway had “a neighbour to the east that has become more dangerous and more unpredictable”.

An extra 3 billion kroner ($342 million) will be used to strengthen Norway’s naval presence in the far north of Europe, intensify training for soldiers and reservists and increase stocks of ammunition, fuel and equipment.

Read more

Nato generals to redraw troop and missile strategies as Russia bombards Ukraine

The money will also be used to increase capacity to receive allied troops and strengthen cyber defence and intelligence.

Mr Enoksen said a Russian attack on Norway might be unlikely but that the Kremlin had significant economic and security interests in the region.

Norway, whose former prime minister Jens Stoltenberg is the current secretary-general of Nato, shares a 196-kilometre land border with Russia in the Arctic and a large maritime border in the Barents Sea.

“We need to increase our presence in the north,” Mr Enoksen said.

Germany and Denmark have both moved to increase defence spending since Russia invaded Ukraine, citing a changed security environment.

A Nato defence ministers' summit this week ended with the alliance's top generals given the responsibility of rethinking the bloc's posture, with Mr Stoltenberg calling for more troops and equipment to be stationed in Eastern Europe.

Nato countries have a target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence, but many countries including Germany and Norway are currently below that threshold. The US has by far the largest military budget in the alliance.

A woman cries near a building damaged by shelling in Kyiv as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues. EPA
A woman cries near a building damaged by shelling in Kyiv as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues. EPA
A satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the damage from a Russian strike on Lviv's international airport. AP
A satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows the damage from a Russian strike on Lviv's international airport. AP
Destroyed cars hit by shelling in Kyiv. EPA
Destroyed cars hit by shelling in Kyiv. EPA
A woman stands in her home after her building was damaged by shelling in Kyiv. EPA
A woman stands in her home after her building was damaged by shelling in Kyiv. EPA
A pedestrian looks at a cloud of smoke rising after an explosion in Lviv. AP
A pedestrian looks at a cloud of smoke rising after an explosion in Lviv. AP
General view of a street behind a barricade in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa. EPA
General view of a street behind a barricade in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa. EPA
The UN Security Council meets on threats to international peace and security in New York. AFP
The UN Security Council meets on threats to international peace and security in New York. AFP
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks with US troops at an army training range in Bulgaria. AP
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks with US troops at an army training range in Bulgaria. AP
Empty strollers are seen outside the Lviv city council building during an action to highlight the number of children killed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP
Empty strollers are seen outside the Lviv city council building during an action to highlight the number of children killed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP
Children play on the stage of the theatre of the Ukrainian House where a shelter for refugees has been installed in Przemysl, south-eastern Poland. AFP
Children play on the stage of the theatre of the Ukrainian House where a shelter for refugees has been installed in Przemysl, south-eastern Poland. AFP
Smoke is seen above buildings close to the airport in Lviv, Ukraine. Lviv's mayor said the airport was not hit, but an area nearby. Getty Images
Smoke is seen above buildings close to the airport in Lviv, Ukraine. Lviv's mayor said the airport was not hit, but an area nearby. Getty Images
Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing in Kyiv. AP Photo
Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a blaze at a warehouse after a bombing in Kyiv. AP Photo
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy presents flowers to Kateryna Vlasenko, 16 - who was injured as she fled with her family from the town of Vorzel - at a hospital in Kyiv. Reuters
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy presents flowers to Kateryna Vlasenko, 16 - who was injured as she fled with her family from the town of Vorzel - at a hospital in Kyiv. Reuters
Igor, a 40 year-old Ukranian soldier, embraces his wife in front of his military basement in the centre of Odesa. AFP
Igor, a 40 year-old Ukranian soldier, embraces his wife in front of his military basement in the centre of Odesa. AFP
Ukrainian refugees arrive at the reception centre near Palanca Village, about 3 kilometres from the Moldova-Ukraine border. EPA
Ukrainian refugees arrive at the reception centre near Palanca Village, about 3 kilometres from the Moldova-Ukraine border. EPA
Broken windows after parts of a Russian missile, shot down by Ukrainian air defences, hit an apartment block in Kyiv. AP
Broken windows after parts of a Russian missile, shot down by Ukrainian air defences, hit an apartment block in Kyiv. AP
People clear debris outside a medical centre damaged by the same Russian missile after it was intercepted. AP
People clear debris outside a medical centre damaged by the same Russian missile after it was intercepted. AP
A police officer looks through the window of a damaged flat in Kyiv. One person was killed and three injured when debris from a downed rocket hit an apartment in the Ukrainian capital. AFP
A police officer looks through the window of a damaged flat in Kyiv. One person was killed and three injured when debris from a downed rocket hit an apartment in the Ukrainian capital. AFP
Firemen working in the rubble after extensive damage in Kyiv. AFP
Firemen working in the rubble after extensive damage in Kyiv. AFP
Family members and comrades of Ivan Skrypny, who was killed in a rocket attack on a military base in Yavoriv, pay their last respects at his memorial service in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
Family members and comrades of Ivan Skrypny, who was killed in a rocket attack on a military base in Yavoriv, pay their last respects at his memorial service in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
A man feels the despair as his home was hit by debris from a downed rocket in Kyiv. Russian troops trying to encircle the capital have launched early morning strikes on the city for several successive days. AFP
A man feels the despair as his home was hit by debris from a downed rocket in Kyiv. Russian troops trying to encircle the capital have launched early morning strikes on the city for several successive days. AFP
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed shakes hands with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a news conference following their talks in Moscow. Reuters
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed shakes hands with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a news conference following their talks in Moscow. Reuters
The Donetsk Regional Theatre of Drama, which was destroyed by an air strike during Russia's military onslaught in Mariupol, Ukraine. Reuters
The Donetsk Regional Theatre of Drama, which was destroyed by an air strike during Russia's military onslaught in Mariupol, Ukraine. Reuters
A satellite image of the theatre before the bombing, with the word 'children' written in Russian in large white letters on the pavement in front of and behind the building. Reuters
A satellite image of the theatre before the bombing, with the word 'children' written in Russian in large white letters on the pavement in front of and behind the building. Reuters
A Ukrainian woman and her family in a taxi displaying the colours of the Ukrainian flag upon arriving in Madrid with a group of Spanish taxi drivers who drove to Poland to support the mass evacuation of refugees. Reuters
A Ukrainian woman and her family in a taxi displaying the colours of the Ukrainian flag upon arriving in Madrid with a group of Spanish taxi drivers who drove to Poland to support the mass evacuation of refugees. Reuters
A sanitised train arrives in Kielce, Poland, carrying children with oncological diseases who fled Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Reuters
A sanitised train arrives in Kielce, Poland, carrying children with oncological diseases who fled Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Reuters
A man outside a damaged housing block after it was hit by debris from a downed rocket in Kyiv. AFP
A man outside a damaged housing block after it was hit by debris from a downed rocket in Kyiv. AFP
A residential building damaged by a blast wave at the scene where debris from a downed rocket hit a nearby apartment block in Kyiv. AFP
A residential building damaged by a blast wave at the scene where debris from a downed rocket hit a nearby apartment block in Kyiv. AFP
Evacuees from Mariupol are seen upon arrival at the car park of a shopping centre on the outskirts of the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is now a registration centre for displaced people. AFP
Evacuees from Mariupol are seen upon arrival at the car park of a shopping centre on the outskirts of the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is now a registration centre for displaced people. AFP
Legislators applaud Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, after an address via video link at the Bundestag in Berlin. Bloomberg
Legislators applaud Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, after an address via video link at the Bundestag in Berlin. Bloomberg
Kanguva
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Rating: 2/5
 
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Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')

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Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
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Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Updated: March 18, 2022, 2:23 PM`
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