FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Issue #6

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 send us an email here. 

Cover art: Haakon Lundkvist, VisitNorthwest.no.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide visited Washington, D.C., this week, where he had meetings with senators, think tanks, and members of the Biden administration. Critical topics included Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, trade, the Arctic, and the conflict in the Middle East. This was his first time in D.C. since becoming foreign minister last year.

Eide visited the Embassy, where he met with employees and outlined Norway’s foreign policy priorities. Later, at the Brookings Institution, Eide engaged in a fireside chat delving into the complexities of Russia’s war two years after its outbreak and emphasizing the need for Ukraine to prevail. The conversation was moderated by Brookings Senior Fellow Fiona Hill.

He also met with a number of senators, including Ted Cruz (Texas), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), and Mike Rounds (South Dakota), and he again highlighted the importance of sustained support to Ukraine, among other topics. Additional meetings were with Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, incoming Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

Photo credit: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This week, we welcomed our new interns, Ingjerd and Ingrid, who will be with us for the next five months. Ingjerd’s hometown is Sundvollen, while Ingrid is an Oslo native. We’re thrilled to have them here with us!

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

On January 25, we enjoyed hosting a group of students from St. Olaf College's D.C. Practicum class at Embassy. The college has close ties to Norway, having been founded by Norwegian-Americans in 1874, and Queen Sonja visited its campus as recently as 2022.

The students met with Embassy staff and discussed Norwegian government and policy, similarities and differences with the U.S., and what happens at an embassy from day to day. They also participated in a Kahoot! quiz. Thanks for stopping by!

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

From February 11 to May 5, Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway, will be on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. The exhibit explores the art of Bergen silversmiths from the 16th to early 20th centuries, as well as the evolution of the craft against the backdrop of greater political, social, and economic changes. Some 200 objects – from spoons, tankards, sugar bowls, and salt cellars to elaborate ceremonial wedding crowns – are on exclusive loan to the U.S. from public and private Norwegian collections.

Click here to learn more.

Photo credit: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Headlines were made on February 1, when what has been described by some as "the most Norwegian incident ever" occurred on Norway's Oslofjord. People enjoying a floating sauna, who had planned to spend the day relaxing in true Norwegian-winter style, instead witnessed a Tesla drive off the pier into the water.

A rescue mission was quickly launched. The sauna skipper zoomed toward the Tesla's occupants, so that the guests could help them make their way to safety. To read more, click here. The Washington Post notes that, last year, Teslas were the most-sold car in Norway for the third year in a row.

Photo credit: "Saunas in the Oslo fjord," Fredrik Ahlsen, Visit Norway