U.S.-Norwegian congressional roundtable in Oslo

State Secretary Espen Barth Eide participated in the US-Norwegian congressional roundtable in Oslo on 21 February. The main issues on the agenda included energy, security cooperation and international shipping.

State Secretary Espen Barth Eide, Representative Jim Sensenbrenner and Ambassador Knut Vollebæk

The conference was organised by the International Management and Development Institute (IMDI) in cooperation with The Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) and the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association. These roundtables are organised regularly in various foreign countries as a forum for U.S. Members to have a dialogue with trade and other groups. It is the first time these roundtables are held in Oslo.

Mr Barth Eide participated in a panel that focused on security cooperation. In his remarks, the State Secretary underlined the need to recognise energy security as a NATO challenge. However, this should primarily be a civilian strategy, but it has also important military implications. - We must aim to de-securitise energy relations, while keeping our guard until this happens, he said.

The State Secretary also stressed that the High North and energy are the main rationale for Norwegian defence and security priorities, and the twofold reason why Norway still has a relatively high focus on high-end and high-tech defence capabilities, such as the new frigates and the planned new fighter aircraft.

Norway is in the process of buying new fighter aircraft, and working closely with three different candidates in this. The U.S. and Norway have a longstanding relationship and history in defence procurement. – However, the State Secretary underlined, – There is a need for more reciprocity in this relationship and a stronger focus on a long term partnership.  Norwegian industry is advanced in its fields, and there is a considerable room to develop more strategic partnerships between industries in the two countries.

– An increasing European defence industry means that Norway is no longer predetermined to procure from the U.S.  The Norwegian government welcomes the competition this entails. It is also important to the government to support Norwegian industry. Not necessarily by buying Norwegian products, but by strengthening and contributing to the internationalisation of Norwegian industry.