Norway First NATO Nation to Opt Out of ‘Star Wars’

Norway on Wednesday became the first North Atlantic Treaty Organization country to state publicly that it will not participate in the U.S. government’s “Star Wars” research program.

The government statement said the Oslo government fears that development of new strategic defense systems could lead to an arms race in space, which it said must be avoided.

The statement said Norway has already expressed concern within NATO over the possible long-term consequences for the alliance of the research program, adding:

“Norway laid down the precondition that this research must not be of an extent which would justify the idea that the United States is seeking to secure strategic superiority.”

The United States last month invited its NATO allies and several other countries to join its Strategic Defense Initiative, which is aimed at developing space weapons that could destroy nuclear missiles shortly after takeoff.

Although Norway’s was the first such government statement, the Danish Parliament has voted against involvement in “Star Wars” systems and has urged the country’s government to work against them. Australia, among the non-NATO countries invited to participate, has also said it will not take part.