Germany, France, Britain and the US had offered rival frigate designs in competition for what is expected to be Nato-member Norway’s largest military procurement to date.

“The frigates are an essential part of our defence because they are key to defend our sovereignty,” prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a press conference.

British officials, seeking economies of scale for their own navy and to boost Scotland’s shipyard industry, had heavily promoted the BAE Systems’ frigates, known as the T-26 City-class.

Stoere said the government sought to answer two questions in its selection process.

“Who is our most strategic partner? And who has delivered the best frigates? … The answer to both is the UK,” he said.

The government’s decision means that Norway will now enter final contract negotiations.

It was not immediately clear how many frigates Norway could order from Britain, nor did the government provide financial details.

Norway currently operates four frigates.

The Nordic nation of 5.6 million people shares a border with Russia and is ramping up defence spending in light of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s demand that Nato allies must bolster their own military strength.