In relation to this comparative news analysis project, each country has been asked to provide a brief description of the nation-state relation to the United States, based on aspects of policy, economics, cooperation, conflicting interests (potentially) and culture. The first thing to state about Norway is that it counts the US as its most important ally and has done so since joining NATO when that organization was set up, post-WW2. In recent years, where NATO has expanded and new countries have also joined the European Union (EU) where Norway is but an member of the European Economic Area (EEA), the country´s relation to the US has strengthened. At the same time, it becomes more and more apparent how small countries are vulnerable to geopolitical shifts. In terms of Norway-US relations and the operartive classfication scheme in thnis project, the correct category fcor Norway would be “cooperative”. The justification is as follows:
Norway as a small country has a strong and consensus-based affiliation with the US, on several levels. NATO membership is one of these. Massive migration over three main waves of migration starting in 1825 and still ongoing, is another. There are today as many people in the US counting Norway as their country of origin as there are Norwegians in Norway (5 million). That is, if you count Americans with a 3-4 generational line back to Norway.
As a small country, we are dependent on connections with larger ones. Norway is an export country, heavily reliant on exporting oil and gas. The country also has the largest public investment fund in the world, were stock is invested globally and quite heavily in real estate and US-derived companies. The US is the main trade relation for Norwegian products, with the EU coming in second.
Historically, Norway has cultivated close relations to the US due to several waves of migration. In the mid 1800´s, around the turn of the century and up towards the 1970´s one would find large segments of Norwegians seeking a life in the Mid-West, in Brooklyn and the New York region., as well as in high-tech communities in Texas (oil) and Silicon Valley (communications). While the more recent migration is a notable feature, it is the older waves of immigration that tie Norway culturally to the US. In addition, one could point to the general Hollywood infatuation. But more politically oriented, the key component is the collaboration that goes through NATO, which was completely key to Norwegian foreign policy during the Cold War.
A note on NATO: Norway has a long and exposed coastline, where the Northern parts are of direct interest to Russia and China. The thawing of sea ice in the High North opens new areas of trade and travel. The northernmost coastline and the northern border with Russia render Norway of strategic importance to the NATO alliance and consequently, there is a frequent return to these issues in the news.
Economically, politically and culturally the democratic monarchy of Norway is a country with a deep sense of linkage to the UK and to the US. It is also a country that was under foreign domination by Denmark and Sweden for 500 years until 1905 and therefore guards its independence.
In accordance with this project, one would underscore how the Norwegian relation to the US is a very potent mix of political, economic and also cultural linkage. This also translates into the expectation that developments within the US acquire considerable news coverage in Norway, just as it generates considerable disagreements as to how one understands the political relations and links.
References
https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-norway/
Berdal, Mats R. (1997) The United States, Norway and the Cold War, 1954–60, London: Palgrave MacMillan.
Græger, Nina (2018) “Need to Have or Nice to Have? Nordic Cooperation, NATO and the EU”, in Norwegian Foreign, Security and Defence Policy, pp. 363- 376.