Norway and Germany sign Hansa Arrangement to deepen defence ties

Norway and Germany have formalised a new bilateral defence framework called the “Hansa Arrangement” during the Munich Security Conference, aiming to expand cooperation across maritime, space, land and industrial domains [1].

Key takeaways

• The Hansa Arrangement was signed by Defence Ministers Boris Pistorius and Tore O. Sandvik in February 2026 [1].
• Five cooperation areas are identified: maritime security, space‑based surveillance, combined‑arms land warfare, rapid reinforcement, and defence‑industry collaboration [2].
• Both nations are jointly developing next‑generation long‑range maritime missiles (3SM) and building new submarine maintenance facilities at Haakonsvern in Bergen [1].
• Norway will acquire German Leopard A28 main battle tanks and participates with Germany in the NATO‑led multinational brigade in Lithuania [2].
• The agreement follows a summer 2025 announcement by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Chancellor Friedrich Merz to deepen bilateral defence ties [1].

Expanding maritime and space cooperation

At the conference, Defence Ministers Pistorius and Sandvik highlighted maritime security as a central pillar of the partnership, focusing on the North Atlantic and North Sea. Norway has recently approved two additional submarines, bringing its fleet to six vessels that will operate jointly with Germany, and both countries are collaborating on the 3SM long‑range maritime missile programme [1]. In addition, new maintenance facilities are being constructed at the Haakonsvern naval base in Bergen to support the submarine fleets of both nations [1].

Space‑based surveillance also features in the arrangement, with plans to leverage Norway’s Andøya Spaceport for joint space‑technology projects that could benefit German launch activities, according to Sandvik’s remarks on the importance of space capabilities for military operations [2].

Strengthening land forces and defence industry links

Land‑force cooperation is set to deepen through Norway’s purchase of German Leopard A28 main battle tanks, enhancing interoperability within the German‑led NATO multinational brigade stationed in Lithuania [2]. The two countries already cooperate within NATO structures, and regular joint training exercises such as Cold Response 26 are scheduled for the upcoming winter [1].

Industrial collaboration is another cornerstone. In 2025, Norway was the second‑largest importer of defence materiel in Europe, spending about €1.4 billion, with Norwegian firm RITEK assembling 37 of the 54 Leopard 2 tanks ordered from Germany’s Krauss‑Maffei Wegmann [2]. The Hansa Arrangement seeks to build on this partnership by encouraging joint development of technologies, including space assets and missile systems.

Why it matters

The Hansa Arrangement signals a deepening of European defence integration at a time of heightened security concerns in the region. By formalising cooperation across multiple domains, Norway and Germany aim to bolster NATO’s collective capability, particularly in the strategically vital North Atlantic and High North. The agreement also underscores a broader trend of European states seeking to share industrial capacity and technology, reducing reliance on external suppliers. Future steps will likely involve concrete implementation plans for pre‑positioning German equipment on Norwegian soil and further joint exercises, shaping the security architecture of northern Europe in the coming years.