Foreign relations of Norway
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Norway pursues an active foreign policy based on cooperation on several fronts, including membership in NATO, active involvement in the work of the United Nations, and close cooperation through the Nordic Council. Its foreign ministry includes both the minister of foreign affairs and minister of international aid.
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History
Norway's ministry of foreign affairs was established on the same day that Norway declared its independence from Sweden, June 7, 1905. Although diplomats could not present credentials at foreign governments until the Swedish king formally renounced his right to the Norwegian throne, a number of unofficial representatives worked on the provisional government's behalf until the first Norwegian ambassador, Hjalmar Christian Hauge sought accreditation with United States secretary of state Elihu Root on November 6, 1905.
The initial purpose of the newly formed foreign ministry was both to represent Norway's interests through diplomatic channels, and to provide consular services for Norwegian shipping and commerce overseas. In 1906, the Storting decided to establish six embassies in Europe, one in the United States, and one in Argentina. 20 consular offices were also opened.
During World War I, the foreign ministry was confronted with unprecedented challenges in maintaining neutrality for Norway, in particular in order to protect its merchant fleet.
In 1922, the ministry was consolidated and reorganized to ensure fuller cooperation between the diplomatic and consular branches. The reorganization included the formation of a designated career path for diplomats that included completion of a university entrance examination and professional experience from international trade. The economic hardship of the times forced austerity measures at the ministry for the next several years.
With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the ministry was again overwhelmed with work. When Norway was invaded in 1940, many of the ministry's archives and some of its staff were moved to Sweden for protection. The ministry was reconstituted in exile in Bracknell, outside of London, moving shortly thereafter to Kingston House in London. By the time it moved back to Norway in 1945, it was a well-run organization.
Since World War II, Norway has radically increased the scale and scope of its foreign policy. A founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, it was closely aligned with the United States during the Cold War, though it maintained cordial relations with the Soviet Union. It has been an enthusiastic proponent of peaceful resolution of disputes through the offices of the United Nations, contributing Trygve Lie as its first secretary general.
Elements of policy
Since the end of the Cold War, Norway has developed a model to foreign policy known as the "Norwegian model," the goal of which is to contribute to peace and stability through coordinated response among governmental and non-governmental Norwegian organizations; acting as an honest broker in international conflicts; an informal network of Norwegian individuals with access and credibility among parties; and the willingness to take the long view in international issues.
The post-war foreign policy of Norway can described along four dimensions:
Strategic alliances
Norway's strategic importance for waging war in the North Atlantic became important in the failed neutrality policy of World War II. Norway became a founding member of NATO in order to ally itself with countries that shared its democratic values. Both through diplomatic and military cooperation, Norway has played a visible role in the formation and operations of NATO. It allowed a limited number of military bases and exercises to be based in its territories, which caused some controversy when NATO decided to put forward bases in Northern Norway in preparation for a conflict with the Soviet Union.
International cooperation
Norway supports international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes, recognizing the need for maintaining a strong national defense through collective security. Accordingly, the cornerstones of Norwegian policy are active membership in NATO and support for the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Norway also pursues a policy of economic, social, and cultural cooperation with other Nordic countries--Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland--through the Nordic Council. Norway ended a 2-year term on the UN Security Council in January 2003, and chaired the Iraq Sanctions Committee.
Norway is the only Scandinavian country that is not a member of the European Union. Membership has been proposed within Norway, and referendums over Norwegian membership were held in 1972 and 1994. Popular opinion was split between rural and urban areas.
See article on Norway and the European Union
The present government has tabled the possibility for future membership.
Foreign aid
In addition to strengthening traditional ties with developed countries, Norway seeks to build friendly relations with developing countries and has undertaken humanitarian and development aid efforts with selected African and Asian nations. Norway also is dedicated to encouraging democracy, assisting refugees, and protecting human rights throughout the world.
Third party mediation in international conflicts
Norway has played an active role as a third party mediator in a number of international conflicts. The late foreign minister Johan Jørgen Holst was instrumental in forging the Oslo Accords between Israel and the PLO. Thorvald Stoltenberg was part of the mediation team in seeking an end to the civil war in Bosnia. Norway has contributed both mediation services and financial assistance in Guatemala.
As of 2005, Norwegian diplomats are acting as mediators in Sudan, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, and Colombia.
Every year since 1947 Norway gives a large Christmas tree to London (http://www.norway.org.uk/culture/misc/christmastree.htm) as a symbol of the friendship forged between the two nations during WW2.
International disputes
Territorial claim in Antarctica (Dronning Maud Land) and a border dispute with Russia over the Barents Sea.
See also
External links
- Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (http://odin.dep.no/ud/english/bn.html)
- History of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norwegian (http://odin.dep.no/ud/norsk/dep/om_dep/historikk/)fr:Relations internationales de la Norvège