He has put the blazer on the hat shelf and got up again to get a green sweater. The Mummy-white Finnair plane will take Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) to the future NATO country. He is going to the Finnish president’s summer residence to take part in talks on the security policy situation. Through the window at seat 6A, the prime minister can see more and more of his realm while the captain finds the height of the march. No matter how changed a world may be in a few weeks, Norway is in the north of Europe. East of the United States, west of Russia. Geographical and security policy. Photo: Lars Nehru Sand / news Støre’s political heart beats a little extra for the High North. The more important the High North is to us, the more important we make Russia to Norwegian foreign policy. No matter how long the Ukraine war and the sanctions last, there will be one afterwards. We all have an interest in having some kind of relationship with Russia, no matter how long Putin rules Moscow and whether what comes next is better, worse or just as bad. That is the dilemma. While the plane bumps down towards the Finnish mainland, Støre answers something that is surprisingly little talked about. – How should we relate to Russia after the war? – It is a monumental question. That big. So little concrete. So crucial. So uncertain. The demanding neighbor Few if any in Norwegian politics have a better chance of answering, than Jonas Gahr Støre. While Labor prime ministers before him grew up in the youth party, Støre’s Soviet commitment is called “his AUF”. He was early interested in the conditions of minorities, human rights and the understanding of a brutal regime. He became interested as a teenager. Arranged demonstrations during the study period. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, he worked in the Prime Minister’s office. At the time when Jens Stoltenberg was a parliamentary representative and his father Thorvald as foreign minister signed the Kirkenes Declaration in 1992. Støre himself had just become foreign minister when the inspection of the trawler Elektron was triggering a diplomatic crisis against Moscow. He followed Statoil’s Gazprom talks. He negotiated a dividing line agreement with Russia and Lavrov in 2010. Two years later, he flew to Kirkenes to launch the border resident certificate. The triumph: Støre and Lavrov sign the dividing line agreement in 2010. Russia gave up sea areas that had been in their interests since 1926. The agreement came into place two years after Russia attacked Georgia. Photo: Berit Roald / NTB Now he is prime minister. Russia has invaded its democratic neighbor. Norway and the EU have introduced sanctions and Finland and even Sweden will become full-blooded NATO countries. So Støre knows very well that the greatness of the past, shaky pride characterizes Russia. That our neighborhood is characterized by ups and downs. Varying trust and changing opportunities. But always hope. The dividing line agreement was proof that we were right. Mariupol is the proof of the time difference. But if we, like Støre, believe the northern area is the largest strategic focus area for Norway the next generation, we can not choose a freezer strategy. The Arctic becomes hotter geopolitically when the ice melts. Svalbard makes Norway’s Russia relationship unique. North is important for several reasons. Climate, energy, security policy, relations with the Northern Fleet, search and rescue, fisheries, maritime law, international law, border residents, indigenous peoples, tourism, culture, research. That is why Russia is important to us. Therefore, we will for the longest time have some form of contact. But still? Sauna and safety The Finnish president, Sauli Niinistö, has invited Støre, Stoltenberg and a number of Finnish community leaders to their summer residence at Gullranda. It is most urgent to talk about NATO applications and Turkish demands where they walk so-called naturally in front of the photographers in a park which for completely understandable reasons is called “a Versailles in miniature”. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö spoke about Finnish NATO membership already in his New Year’s speech. Extensive diplomacy is now underway to persuade Turkey to approve the application. Here, Niinistö is in conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Photo: Lars Nehru Sand / news Støre has come to warmly welcome the Finnish NATO application. To emphasize the opportunities this offers for Norway, Finland and NATO. But he also talks a bit about the time after the war: That we must see what opportunities there will be to get closer to Russia. It will probably be “very limited” anyway. “Restricted”. The most important thing for Norway will be the dialogue with the Northern Fleet. Fisheries cooperation. Svalbard. We will look after our interests, but we do not know now what kind of Russia we will face. If contact is not possible, we must remain calm. Norway must not and cannot threaten. – Here we are among the experts, Støre smiles. He tells with delight about the late summer night in the warm, smoky, washable Finnish sauna. Old friends: Støre and Stoltenberg are both woven into the history of Norway and Russia. Photo: Lars Nehru Sand / news He believes that Norway and Finland stand together and think alike when it comes to the neighbor to the east. We seek cooperation and are predictable neighboring countries. Støre contradicts those who believe that Norway’s role in NATO changes significantly when we are no longer exclusive eyes and ears in the north. The Prime Minister reminds that Norway is alone in submarine intelligence and the border with the Barents Sea. Brussels and Washington will still listen to us. Winds and great powers There are ripples on the lake. The leaves dance on the many deciduous trees. – A social democratic wind is blowing! The Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (S), welcomes the Nordic labor parties and the trade union movement to the Swedish AUF’s course location outside Stockholm. Støre and the applicants: Jonas Gahr Støre, Sanna Marin (Finland) and Magdalena Andersson (Sweden) want a Nordic voice in NATO and believe both the Nordic countries and NATO will benefit from it. Photo: Lars Nehru Sand / news In the panel discussion, Støre repeats the message about the scope and seriousness of Ukraine. The next dimension is also important, where the social democrats of the Nordic democratic welfare states meet their like-minded people: This is not just about Russia. It is a battle for world order and governance. Støre is concerned that authoritarian regimes must be confronted. That the use of force should not pay off. Russia, China, a seeking India. Not everyone looks at Putin with Western contempt. Some rejoice that the unilateral American-dominated world order is being challenged. In this picture, standing up to Russia will be about something bigger. When Foreign Minister Støre gave his famous High North speech in Tromsø in 2005, he said that Russia “of course is the most important country for dialogue on opportunities and responsibilities in the north” and that Norway must build on “the good neighborly relations”. When Prime Minister Støre presented his government platform on Lake Hurdal in 2021, it could be read that Norway will “further develop bilateral cooperation with Russia”. – What exactly are the possibilities for that now? – There are no opportunities for that. Dot. But Norway’s door will not close. The military channel to the Northern Fleet, enforcement of the law of the sea, fisheries cooperation and Svalbard means that we will in the long run do much to have some contact with Russia, not necessarily directly with the Kremlin. The extent to which we will be able to pursue our interests will, to an even greater extent than before, be linked to what Russia allows and we have the backbone for. It is a balancing act filled with dilemmas. The monumental can turn out to be the minimal. Jonas Gahr Støre on his way to meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stockhokm. Photo: Lars Nehru Sand / news Sources Aasheim, Erik and Martin, Nina Stensrud, Jonas, Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, Oslo 2014 Støre, Jonas Gahr and Bals, Jonas, In motion – 21st Century Choice, Cappelen Damm, Oslo 2014 Støre , Jonas Gahr, Making a Difference – Reflections from a Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cappelen Damm, Oslo 2008 Stoltenberg, Jens and Thorvald, Conversations – with Anne Grosvold, Aschehoug Forlag, Oslo 2009 Hurdalsplattformen Støre, Jonas Gahr, University of Tromsø 10 November 2005 , A sea of opportunities Støre, Jonas Gahr, European Conference, Oslo, 2 February 2006, An ever greater EU – challenges and opportunities for Norway Støre, Jonas Gahr, University of Oslo, 2 February 2006, Sovereignty, stability and cooperation Prime Minister Støre , Jonas Gahr Støre, Marmorhallen, Oslo, 24 February 2022, Introduction press conference Prime Minister Støre, Jonas Gahr Støre, Statements in the Storting, Oslo, 3 March, 18 March, 26 April 2022
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Disturbed Russia headache – Expression
