Norway will allocate over $240 million to Ukraine to strengthen its fleet
16.12.2024 - 16:53
The Norwegian government has said it will provide 2.7 billion kroner to strengthen the Ukrainian Navy.
This was announced by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, writes Reuters.
On Monday, December 16, Norway said it would provide 2.7 billion kroner (approximately $242.38 million) to strengthen the Ukrainian fleet and help deter Russian naval forces in the Black Sea.
A significant part of the funding will go to innovation and autonomy within the framework of the Maritime Capabilities Coalition, which Norway and the United Kingdom founded last year to make the Ukrainian Navy more compatible with Western allies.
“It is important to protect the Ukrainian population and Ukrainian infrastructure from attacks by the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” the Norwegian prime minister stressed.
According to him, it is also important to protect seaborne exports of grain and other products that bring significant income to Ukraine. The funding will also be used for mine clearance operations.
“The systems we are providing will enhance the ability of Ukrainian forces to detect and defuse mines along their coastline,” Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said in a statement.
As a reminder, in late November this year, Norway allocated 50 million Norwegian kroner ($4.5 million) to the Grain from Ukraine initiative.
