NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, center, poses for a photo with Norwegian soldiers with the Artillery Battalion, Brigade Nord, in front of a K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer during a visit in Setermoen, Norway, March 18, 2026. The visit highlighted the strength of NATO’s joint force, demonstrating operational capabilities in an Arctic environment during Cold Response 26. A key component of NATO’s enhanced vigilance activity Arctic Sentry, exercise Cold Response 26 is a Norwegian-led winter military exercise designed to enhance collective defense capabilities and ensure U.S. readiness to rapidly deploy and seamlessly operate alongside NATO Allies in challenging arctic conditions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Alexis French)

The Norwegian Armed Forces have recorded a noticeable decline in public reputation, according to the 2026 Traction Offentlig survey conducted by Apeland in cooperation with Altinget and Norstat. Forsvaret scored 75 points, down from a record 80 points in 2025, moving from the category of “very good” to simply “good” reputation.

Survey organizers say that while most Norwegians still have positive things to say about the military, respondents increasingly cite waste and high levels of spending as reasons for dissatisfaction. The decline comes as Norway is undertaking a major expansion of defence expenditure and military capabilities.

Read the entire piece in Forsvarets forum.