October 4, 2024

Issue #19

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.

In late September, Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt accompanied Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on a visit to NATO's Joint Force Command in Norfolk, Virginia. These headquarters are responsible for the defense of the northern parts of NATO, including Norway. The Prime Minister also visited the U.S. maritime special forces in Virginia Beach.

"The U.S. is our closest ally, and we have close and extensive defense cooperation," Prime Minister Støre said. "This is very important for Norway's security. Norway is dependent on support from American and allied forces in a crisis situation. I greatly appreciate the good dialogue we have on security policy developments."

For more information, click here (text in Norwegian).

Photo: Chief Mass Communication Specialist Dustin Kelling/Released

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide recently spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine, and the importance of international law and cooperation.

The two also participated in a Memorandum of Cooperation signing ceremony on “High-Standard, Market-Oriented Trade of Critical Minerals.” The agreement establishes principles and cooperation with regard to value chains, employee rights, and the environment. FM Eide later spoke with Norwegian press.

For more information, click here (text in Norwegian).

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

Last week, we joined our friends at the other four Nordic embassies at a Celebration of Nordic Literature. We would like to thank the Library of Congress, Literary Director Clay Smith, and Nordic Area Reference Librarian Troy Wellington Smith for helping us make this event a reality.

Each embassy invited one author to represent their country. These were Hanne Ørstavik (Norway), Josefine Klougart (Denmark), Hanna Pylväinen (Finland), Hildur Knútsdóttir (Iceland), and Moa Herngren (Sweden). There were two panels: one that dealt with the Nordic landscape (Klougart and Pylväinen), and one that focused on the keeping of secrets from others and ourselves (Herngren, Knútsdóttir, and Ørstavik).

During her remarks, Ørstavik talked about her longing for truth and the importance and vulnerability of being able to listen. She especially stressed the necessity of having a listener in one's life – and suggested books could sometimes be that listener.

Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt attended the discussion, as did several other employees from the Embassy. Thanks to all for a wonderful event!

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

September 26 marked the annual European Day of Languages. In honor of the occasion, our Embassy polled our employees about which Norwegian word or phrase is their favorite. The results ranged from traditional to regional to obscure! The video can be found here.

Photo: Council of Europe