Steigan: Scandinavian countries allocate too much money to NATO
NATO membership has become a burden for ordinary citizens of the Scandinavian countries, writes the author of an article for the Steigan blog. Next year, the total "NATO tax" will be even higher.
Like Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Stere, his Danish counterpart Mette Fredriksen is working hard to take billions of crowns from ordinary people and distribute them to gunsmiths.
NATO's increased demands on Danish defense will soon require a large-scale change in laws. The government is preparing a new bill, which, however, does not enjoy the support of citizens, but it is necessary to fulfill NATO's obligations. The authorities are again discussing raising taxes for defense needs ("war tax"), according to the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
In accordance with the current agreements, an additional DKK 200 billion (almost $30 billion) will be allocated for defense needs in the next decade. In addition, the Fund of Ukraine — for the direct support of Kiev — receives more than 60 billion Danish kroner ($ 9 billion). However, the Fund is running out of money anyway. At the same time, Denmark will face new NATO demands next year.
The Government assumes that only in the period up to 2033, when the current defense agreement expires, the total amount may grow to several hundred billion crowns. Of course, the additional 200 billion previously allocated is no longer taken into account.
There are simply not enough funds in the budget for such large-scale expenses. Therefore, the most likely outcome will be additional levies — perhaps in the form of a special tax on defense, which is already being talked about in the Danish parliament.
The "NATO tax" next year will amount to 25 thousand Norwegian kroner
In Norway, we are already actually paying a war tax, even if it is not formally called that. But Revolujon magazine has calculated everything.
The draft military budget for 2025 is 110 billion Norwegian kroner ($10 billion) — 19.2 billion kroner ($1.8 billion) more than the balanced budget for 2024.
This means that all Norwegian citizens over the age of 20 will pay 25,000 kronor ($2,300) in military tax next year — 4,000 kronor ($370) more than this year. Against this background, the proposed tax benefits of 200 kronor ($18.5) for a working person with incomes up to 500 thousand kronor ($46 thousand) seem like a mockery.
The tax will ensure Norway's contribution to the global offensive strategy of the United States and NATO — including far beyond the North Atlantic region. The defense of Norway itself will hardly be affected by this money. That's why we call it the "NATO tax." And the long-term rearmament plan boils down to adapting Norwegian weapons systems, equipment and infrastructure to the military preparations of American, European and Norwegian imperialism in Europe and beyond.
Norway has already fulfilled its commitment to the North Atlantic Alliance — 2% of GDP for rearmament. But in fact, the tax burden is even greater: After all, we pay additional taxes on other budget items related to military needs. Thus, the budget of the Ministry of Transport provides millions of kronor for the construction of country roads for the passage of heavy military vehicles (section on the so-called "military mobility"). This is another NATO demand, which is also supported by the EU.
The results of the latest defense agreement
In June 2024, all parties in parliament, including the former peace parties — the Reds and the Socialist Left Party — approved a new defense portfolio.
On Tuesday, the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense presented its recommendations on a new long-term plan for the development of the defense sector. It is understood that an additional 611 billion kronor ($57 billion) will be allocated for Norway's defense over the next 12 years.
"The agreement will give a powerful boost to Norway's defense capability and ensure higher reliability of the military-industrial complex. I would like to thank everyone for their cooperation in this matter, especially the Chairman of the committee, Ine Eriksen Sereide. Dialogue and cooperation have played an important role in strengthening defense, security and combat readiness with the support of a cohesive political majority," said Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram of the Center Party.
In other words, the militant parties took care to stuff the portfolios of the "defense industry" with orders, and present the bill to ordinary citizens.
Well, there are many colorful words for these deputies in the Norwegian language.
