October 18, 2024

Issue #20

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.

Ambassador Huitfeldt's first trip as Norwegian Ambassador took her to the Midwest last week. It's there that most Norwegian emigrants settled, and even today, more than 22% of North Dakotans have Norwegian heritage. Minnesota is home to the largest number of people with Norwegian ancestry, with over 750,000 residents who claim it.

The visit included many memorable moments. The Ambassador is particularly grateful to our excellent honorary consuls in North Dakota and Minnesota – Jim Maring and Eivind Heiberg, respectively – for their help.

Her first stop was Fargo. At the Sons of Norway Kringen Lodge, she tasted her first lefse burger. Later, she enjoyed a traditional American breakfast with Congressman Kelly Armstrong. 

In Moorhead, a highlight was her visit to the Hjemkomst Center. There, they display the replica of Hopperstad stave church and the Viking ship that sailed from Minnesota to Norway in 1982. At Concordia College, she met with faculty dedicated to fostering cooperation with Norway and participated in a CNAS panel on the importance of NATO.

At Camp Ripley, the headquarters of the Minnesota National Guard, she learned more about the close and longstanding cooperation between them and Norway. Major General Shawn Manke was her generous host. As a historian, she appreciated the presentation about the 99th infantry battalion. 

In Minneapolis, she met Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who generously gifted her a pair of Minnesota mittens. The Ambassador believes these will come in handy when she returns to the Midwest in winter!

She also had dinner with Amy Boxrud from the Norwegian-American Historical Association and Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum President Chris Johnson. They are both central in planning next year's bicentennial celebration of organized Norwegian migration to the United States.

Ambassador Huitfeldt then visited St. Olaf College in Northfield, and spoke with the presidents of three of the schools founded by Norwegian Lutheran emigrants: Susan R. Singer (St. Olaf), Paul Pribbenow (Augsburg University), and Jennifer K. Ward (Luther College) – and greeted the St. Olaf Board. 

At a Scandinavian bakery outside Minneapolis, she met "vaffeldronningen" Stine Aasland, who came to the United States with a dream of selling waffles to Americans. She founded Nordic Waffles, which today can be found in more than 2,000 stores.

The visit ended on a high note as the Ambassador watched Norwegian hockey player Mats Zuccarello score and win with the Minnesota Wild at the season opener. 

Ambassador Huitfeldt commented, “As I leave, I understand why all the previous Norwegian ambassadors to the U.S. told me to visit the Midwest early in my tenure. I will be back!”

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

Last week, the Embassy hosted the Norwegian Defense University College's 31st Senior Executive Course. A high-level delegation of professionals from the Norwegian private and public sectors came to our Atlantic Hall for security-focused panels and talks. Highly informed speakers and an active and engaged audience ensured productive sessions from morning to evening. The Embassy is very grateful to all involved!

One of the speakers was American University Professor Leonard Steinhorn, who was there to provide historical context for the current political climate in the U.S. He took attendees through crucial events in the post-war period, illustrating how they helped shape the U.S. politics of today.

Attendees also heard from a panel on U.S. Foreign Policy, which was made up of speakers Max Bergmann (CSIS), Tara Varma (Brookings), and Luke Coffey (Hudson). They discussed their perspectives on the U.S.-Europe relationship and European security, now and into the future. They also answered some thought-provoking questions from audience members.

Later, the group received a briefing from the Pentagon on our bilateral cooperation and the U.S. presence in Europe and the Arctic, represented by Principal Director for Europe and NATO Alton Buland and Colonel Grant S. Fawcett. They were also briefed by Colonel Brian Hans and Space Development Agency Head of International Engagements Ashley Bander on how the U.S. Space Force works to keep up with the fast pace of tech development.

The final thing on their program was a discussion from the U.S. Department of State, represented by Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe Liam Walmsley, and Finland Desk Officer Natalia Sitnikov, on the topic of Europe and Ukraine from a NATO perspective.

In addition, the delegation received a tour of the U.S. Capitol building and was welcomed to an evening reception at the Ambassador's Residence.

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

The fourth annual Norway Means Business event was hosted on Wednesday in the Embassy's Atlantic Hall. The event was focused on how Norwegian companies contribute to a secure supply of critical minerals in the U.S. and allied countries, as well as bilateral cooperation on critical-mineral supply chains. It was organized by the Embassy, NorCham, and NADIC.

The afternoon featured welcome remarks by Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt, keynote addresses by Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth and Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt, and reflections from NorCham President Idar Voldnes. Our moderator was Senior Vice President at Cassidy & Associates Peter Stahley, and our panelists were Allie Kennedy Thurmond (Vice President of U.S. Lithium, Equinor), Seth Levey (Head of U.S. Government Relations and Corporate Affairs, Glencore), Karl Fossum (Director of Customer Programs, Norsk Titanium), and Heather Armentrout (Head of Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace U.S.). 

In her remarks, Minister Myrseth noted that Norway is rich in many of the minerals crucial for defense and technology, so the Memorandum of Understanding that was recently signed by Secretary Blinken and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide will be important for securing sustainable value chains. Assistant Secretary Pyatt remarked that the MoC can serve as a launch pad for deeper cooperation, and that Norway is a uniquely important ally for the United States.

Thanks to all for a successful day!

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

Recently – thanks to an unusually powerful geomagnetic storm – the Northern Lights could be seen even as far south as here in D.C. While they may not have been quite as impressive as the aurora in Norway's Arctic, they were still a sight to behold. A little taste of home for our Norwegian diplomats, and a brand new experience for our Americans!

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