Norwegian officials said the Supplementary Defense Cooperation Agreement (SDCA) signed between Norway and the United States in 2021 remains in force and both countries continue to strengthen their defense cooperation. The agreement specifically provides for unhindered access for U.S. forces to a dozen military facilities and sites in Norway. Norwegian Minister of State Andreas Flåm said the agreement reinforces the strong long-standing cooperation between the two countries, despite recent tensions between the Trump administration and European countries.
US Access Under SDCA
Under the agreement, US military personnel and contractors will have access to Norway’s strategic military facilities, including Evenes and Sola air bases and Ramsund Naval Base. These facilities will be used for a wide range of military activities, including training, maneuvers, contingency operations, aircraft and ship refueling, and force deployment. In particular, Rygge air base, where Norway’s F-35 fighter jets are stored, stands out as one of the critical points of the agreement.
Investments Made at Rygge Air Base
The Norwegian Ministry of Defence announced that Washington is investing $188 million to expand Rygge air base. The investment includes the construction of four new fighter hangars, increased ammunition storage capacity and strengthened security measures by patrolling the base. Plans for infrastructure development are reportedly progressing rapidly, with the first contract expected to be announced this summer.
Norway's F-35 Fleet Expands
Norway has recently taken delivery of three new F-35A aircraft, bringing its total number of F-49 fighter jets to 35. The remaining three aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in the summer. These aircraft are critical to increasing Norway’s national defense capacity. Flåm said that cooperation with the United States supports the development and operational use of the F-35 platform and that this process will continue.
F-35 Usage and Future Possibilities
Defense experts and lawmakers have recently raised concerns that the U.S. could prevent its allies from operating or maintaining their F-35 fleets. These concerns have particularly increased after President Trump took a more harmonious approach with Russia and threatened to annex Canada and Greenland. However, Norwegian officials are not concerned about a freeze in those relations.
“The F-35 is a cornerstone of our national defense capability. Cooperation with the United States is critical to the development and use of this strategic platform. We expect this cooperation to continue in the future,” Flåm said. This statement shows that Norway’s defense policies are based on its relationships with strong allies and that future military cooperation will deepen further.
