February 28, 2025

Issue #27

We hope you enjoy this brief look into recent developments in Norway and at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. If you are not subscribed but would like to be, please add your contact information to our Google Form. We also recommend following our social media accounts (links above).

Cover art: Haakon Lundkvist, VisitNorthwest.no.

February 24 marked three long years of Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Countless lives have been lost and homes destroyed. Yet Ukraine’s fight for freedom carries on. Norway continues to stand fully and firmly behind Ukraine.

"Every day for the past three years, the Ukrainian people have been fighting for their freedom. They are not just fighting for Ukraine, but also for the security of Europe as a whole, and for a world order based on international law and democratic values. In order to maintain Ukrainian resilience, it is critical that Norway and other countries continue and increase their support to Ukraine," said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The Norwegian Government also announced a plan to increase support for Ukraine. This will allot NOK 3.5 billion for the procurement of military equipment from the Ukrainian defense industry. In addition, Norway is now providing NOK 600 million for the procurement of various types of drones and for the development of drone technology for the Ukrainian armed forces.

To read more about the ways Norway is supporting Ukraine, click here.

Photo: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Last week, our Embassy hosted a roundtable event together with NorCham. Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt met with representatives from several Norwegian businesses, such as Equinor, Norsk Hydro, and Kongsberg. They discussed ways to further strengthen Norwegian investment in the U.S. and enhance business relations between our two nations.

NorCham connects regional businesses across the U.S., driving Norwegian investment and creating jobs in both countries.

Norwegian companies have a significant impact on the U.S. economy. They have created about 20,200 jobs in sectors like technology, maritime, and oil and gas. Additionally, Norwegian investments support approximately 218,000 U.S. jobs.

Photo: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Earlier this week, our Deputy Chief of Mission, Bård Ivar Svendsen, participated in a panel on "Transatlantic Resilience: Defending Critical Infrastructure in the Face of Russian Aggression" along with Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk and Danish DCM Stig Paolo Piras. The panel was introduced by Andrew Borene and moderated by Martha Miller.

Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy includes direct and indirect threats to undersea cables, energy pipelines, and telecommunications networks, placing European and transatlantic security at risk. The aim of the program was to explore the challenges posed by these emerging threats, with a focus on the significance of undersea infrastructure in the Baltic and North Seas and of cooperation between NATO allies.

Thanks to the National Security Institute (NSI) for organizing!

Photo: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

This morning, the Embassy and guests were treated to an hour-long presentation by Lt. Col. Mitch Utterback about the pivotal World War II sabotage mission that destroyed Nazi attempts to create an atomic bomb – Operation Gunnerside. It just so happened that this presentation took place on the 82nd anniversary of the saboteurs' operation.

The event was introduced by Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt and Military Attaché and Assistant Defense Attaché Col. Christoffer Knutsen. It included an engaging history lesson, stories about the saboteurs, Lt. Col. Utterback's own experience following in their footsteps on an expedition in the same region, and a short documentary film, with time for questions at the end. Thank you for coming!

Photo: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

To view a short video on one of Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt's recent visits to Capitol Hill, which included members (pictured above) of the Norwegian Delegation for Arctic Parliamentary Cooperation, click here.

Photo: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C.