German and Norwegian Defence Ministers Boris Pistorius and Tore O. Sandvik signed a historic bilateral agreement to expand defence cooperation. The document, known as the Hansa Arrangement, was signed on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
The agreement creates a long-term framework for a comprehensive military partnership between the two countries within NATO and aims to strengthen European security in the face of growing threats.
Key areas of cooperation include five main areas:
space surveillance, target designation, and communications;
maritime security and joint naval operations in the North Atlantic and North Sea;
land combat operations using combined arms formations;
rapid response and rapid reinforcement;
defense industry and joint arms projects.
Particular attention is being paid to protecting critical underwater infrastructure, developing joint capabilities in the Arctic and Northern Europe, and deepening cooperation in military technology. Germany and Norway are already jointly implementing projects on Type 212CD submarines, long-range missile systems, and next-generation main battle tanks.
Experts view the signing of the Hansa Arrangement as an important step toward strengthening NATO’s European dimension and enhancing readiness for collective defense in a changing geopolitical environment.