WASHINGTON—Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on April 24 in a diplomatic overture blending pragmatism and strategic alignment.
Accompanied by Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, the visit underscores the delicate balance of transatlantic relations amid rising trade disputes and shared security imperatives.
Leaders are expected to address the recently imposed 15 percent tariffs, temporarily reduced to 10 percent until early July, on Norwegian goods sold to the United States.
Because the United States is Norway’s second-largest trading partner, behind the European Union, the U.S. levies are affecting exports such as oil, gas, and seafood, which the Nordic country relies on to bolster its economy.
Norwegian officials emphasized the economic partnership while suggesting that negotiations could include exemptions for certain products or mitigations to limit the effects of tariffs.
“Norway and the United States cooperate in a number of areas, and the United States is an important trading partner,” Stoere said in a statement.
“I look forward to talking about areas where we can cooperate even more closely in the future.”
Expressing cautious optimism that a deal can be reached, the longtime Labour leader is looking to resolve trade tensions.
Also on the table for the working visit is the role Norway plays in supporting NATO, a group the country co-founded, and its involvement in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
A vocal supporter of Ukraine, Norway has called for a peace agreement that does not offer concessions that benefit Russia.
Securing the Arctic region has long been a priority for Trump, who has repeatedly called on NATO allies to increase defense spending and better collaborate to ensure peace and stability.
The president last met officially with Norwegian leaders, including then-Prime Minister Erna Solberg, in 2018.
“Norwegians and Americans have so much in common. We’re nations made up of strong, pioneering, and adventurous people, to say the least.”
Beyond geopolitical issues, the visit carries domestic implications for both sides, with Stoere facing a parliamentary election in September.
The White House is looking to project strength and stability on the global stage while balancing key trade and security alliances and showcasing the president’s America First agenda.
Officials representing the two nations have signaled that the visit, the 13th occasion on which foreign leaders have been welcomed to the White House in Trump’s second term, underscores the necessity and complexity of maintaining global ties.
The two countries have maintained peaceful diplomatic relations based on democratic values and mutual respect since 1905, when the Scandinavian country split from Sweden, according to the State Department.
“Academic freedom is under pressure in the United States, and it is an unpredictable position for many researchers in what has been the world’s leading knowledge nation for many decades,” Sigrun Aasland, Norway’s minister of research and higher education, said in a statement.
“It is important for Norway to be proactive in a demanding situation for academic freedom. We can make a difference for outstanding researchers and important knowledge, and we want to do that as quickly as possible.”
