A diplomatic dispute that’s erupted between Norway and Poland is expected to force new debate over Norway’s child protection agency (Barnevernet), which itself has been embroiled in conflicts for years. One foreign policy expert calls the current diplomatic stand-off “spectacular,” and said it can be relevant for all foreign families living in Norway. The dispute resulted […]
Norway and Poland in diplomatic duel
February 12, 2019
Years of new and rising tension between Norway and Poland seemed to reach the boiling point this week, after Norway expelled Poland’s consul and Poland responded by ousting one of Norway’s diplomats. It’s the latest trouble to emerge between allies within the European Economic Association (EEA), the EU and NATO. Norway and Poland have been […]
‘Super diplomat’ heads for Syria
November 1, 2018
Geir O Pedersen is known as a “super diplomat” from Norway with high standing at the United Nations. It’s therefore no great surprise that he’d be tapped to become UN Secretary General António Guterres’ Special Envoy for Syria. The UN announced that Pedersen “brings to this position decades of political and diplomatic experience.” In addition […]
Israeli ambassador offends Norwegians
April 3, 2018
Israel’s ambassador to Norway, Raphael Schutz, has stirred up protests from Norwegian political leaders on both the right and the left after he described one of his many Norwegian critics as being “a descendant of Quisling,” the infamous traitor who sided with the Nazis during World War II. The ruling Conservative Party has reacted strongly, […]
Russia expels a Norwegian diplomat
March 30, 2018
Russian authorities expelled a Norwegian diplomat on Friday who’d been working at the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow. Russia’s foreign ministry also called in Norway’s ambassador along with those from Sweden, Finland and Denmark, to complain about their own envoys’ expulsions earlier in the week. The Russians’ move was an expected response to Norway’s decision, along with […]
Russian ‘freeze’ worries Solberg
March 28, 2018
Prime Minister Erna Solberg admits the diplomatic situation has worsened after Norway and several other countries expelled Russian diplomats this week. Solberg, who didn’t take off on Easter holiday like many of her fellow Norwegians, indicated Norway had no choice following Russia’s alleged use of nerve gas against one of its former agents who was […]
Norway expels Russian diplomat
March 26, 2018
UPDATED: Norway’s foreign ministry decided on Monday to expel a Russian diplomat who reportedly was an intelligence officer based at Russia’s Embassy in Oslo. The expulsion is mainly, however, a show of solidarity with the British government and part of an international reaction to Russia’s alleged use of nerve gas in Britain against one of […]
‘Mr Lee’ leaves a legacy in Norway
March 6, 2018
Chul Ho Lee escaped the horrors of the Korean War to become a pioneering immigrant in Norway and its much-loved “Noodle King,” who later was decorated by Norway’s own King Harald V. His funeral this week came at a time when his homeland is very much back in the international news, and with strong links […]
New US ambassador settles in
February 16, 2018
Norway has a new US ambassador, after Republicans readily confirmed US President Donald Trump’s choice of a retired rear admiral, Kenneth J Braithwaite. His arrival comes just over a year after the US ambassador’s mansion in Oslo was vacated by Sam Heins, former US President Barack Obama’s envoy. Heins had a short stay in Oslo, […]
Rejected American refugee finally deported
January 22, 2018
Norwegian authorities ended up having to charter a private aircraft over the weekend and spend around NOK 1 million to forcibly return a former American diplomat to the US after her application for asylum in Norway was rejected. Two attempts to fly the woman back to the US on a commercial airliner failed when she […]
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