The United States and Norway: A Vital Alliance and Partnership

Norway is a committed ally, partner, and friend of the United States.  The close relationship between our two nations stems in part from waves of Norwegian immigration to the United States from 1825 to 1940, giving the United States today nearly as many people of Norwegian ancestry as the population of Norway.  This year we celebrate one hundred years of United States ambassadors residing in Villa Otium, a historically important cultural heritage building in Oslo that is also symbolic of our long-standing relationship.

The United States and Norway are united by shared values.  We work together both diplomatically and militarily to meet shared challenges in the region and globally across a wide range of security, economic, human rights, and climate issues.  Our countries also work very closely in international organizations and as members of the Arctic Council.

In February 2023, the Minnesota National Guard and the Norwegian Armed Forces signed an agreement under the National Guard State Partnership Program, following 50 years of the Norwegian-Minnesota National Guard Reciprocal Exchange.  In 2022, the U.S.-Norway Supplementary Defense Cooperation Agreement entered into force, which modernizes the framework for visiting U.S. forces and reflects our shared commitment as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies to Transatlantic security.

The United States and Norway:  Strengthening the NATO Alliance and Transatlantic security

• Norway is hosting the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers May 31 – June 1 in Oslo. As a fellow founding member of NATO, Norway shares our goal of strengthening the Alliance to address the full range of threats facing the Transatlantic community.
• Norway is an important Ally along NATO’s northern flank and hosts and participates in NATO exercises and in operations with Allies and partners. S. military personnel train for cold weather exercises in Norway.
• Norway is also a dependable partner working with NATO to protect critical undersea infrastructure vital to our communications networks and energy security.
• The close coordination between the United States and Norway is all the more important as we work together to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. Norway is the leading supplier of natural gas to Europe, playing a vital role in helping Europe move off of its dependence on Russian energy.
• Norway has allocated more than $2.3 billion in support to Ukraine since February 2022, including air defense and other weapons, welcomed 44,000 refugees, provided budget support, and committed $7.5 billion in support over the next five years.
• We also appreciate Norway’s allocation of $200 million to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to enable Ukraine’s national natural gas company, Naftogaz, to procure additional gas from other sources during this past winter.

The United States and Norway:  Partners in the Arctic and through the Arctic Council

• The United States intends to open a U.S. presence post in Tromsø as a commitment to deepening our engagement with Norway and to underscore the significance we place on the Arctic region as a whole.
• The United States congratulates Norway on its assumption of the chairship of the Arctic Council on May 11. Norway is a strong partner for fostering scientific, economic, and environmental cooperation in the Arctic.
• As an Arctic nation, the United States takes seriously the shared responsibility to ensure stability, prosperity, and environmental sustainability in the Arctic region. The United States remains committed to peaceful cooperation in the Arctic, especially through the Arctic Council.  We look forward to working with Norway to further its priorities as the Chair to determine the appropriate approach for continuing the important work of the Arctic Council.
• The United States envisions the Arctic region as free of conflict, where nations act responsibly, and where economic development and investment takes place in a sustainable, secure, and transparent manner that respects the environment and the interests and cultures of indigenous peoples.
• In 2022, the United States released a new National Strategy for the Arctic Region and created new senior positions to advocate for our interests, including the first-ever U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. We are committed to this vital and changing region – one whose importance will only grow in the coming decades.

The United States and Norway:  Combating the Climate Crisis Together

• The United States and Norway have a dynamic economic partnership. Our countries share a commitment to combating climate change, including a focus on clean energy technology, expanding access to renewable energy, forest protection, and increasing agricultural productivity.
• Norway has been a leader in the clean energy revolution. In 2022, 80 percent of new-car sales in Norway were electric.  Norway is also a leader in the development of green technology, leading the way to reduce emissions by capturing carbon, deploying wind energy resources globally, and innovating in the minerals processing space.
• Norway joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and is committed to being one of the most sustainable producers of critical energy minerals.
• The United States and Norway co-launched the Green Shipping Challenge and Norway has joined a number of joint priority climate initiatives, including the Carbon Management Challenge, Methane Finance Sprint, and we are working closely together on combating deforestation.
• Norway is a partner of President Biden’s First Movers Coalition, helping to drive demand for the green products of the future.