Norway plans to raise its military spending by an accumulated 600 billion crowns ($56 billion) through 2036 to bolster its defence against Russia and other security challenges, the NATO member country’s government said on Friday. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced that this plan represents a historic boost in defence spending, involving significant strengthening of all branches of the armed forces. The war in Ukraine has significantly shifted Norway’s discussion on military spending, triggering a debate on how to guard against potential Russian aggression. Norway’s relationship with Russia will be demanding for many years, and in many ways defining for Norwegian security and defence policy. Thanks to its rainy-day sovereign wealth fund, Norway has access to the cash it needs to fund the increased defence spending without affecting other sectors like healthcare and education. Norway recently announced plans to ramp up defence spending in 2024 to 2% of its gross domestic product, making it the latest NATO member nation to officially adopt the target set by the military alliance.