Latest news with #JonasGahrStoere
Straits Times
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Norway's Labour government has narrow poll lead ahead of September's election
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox OSLO - Norway's ruling Labour Party government and its left-leaning allies are favourites to win next month's parliamentary election, albeit with a reduced majority of seats in what is likely to be a narrow vote, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday. Labour Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who governs in a minority with support from smaller parties, hopes to secure a second four-year term in office and prevent the populist right-wing Progress Party or the Conservatives from taking power. In a surprise move, Stoere in February named former NATO boss and ex-prime minister Jens Stoltenberg as his minister of finance, bolstering Labour's standing in the polls among voters concerned by the war in Ukraine and turmoil in global trade. Labour and smaller groups on the left look set to win 88 seats in the 169-seat assembly, down from 100 in 2021 but ahead of the 81 seats seen for the centre-right opposition, the poll by the Opinion agency for ABC Nyheter and Altinget showed. Labour's support in the July 28-August 3 poll stood at 26.7%, in line with the 26.3% it won in 2021 and ahead of the Progress Party, which seeks tax cuts and lower immigration, on 23.6% and the centre-right Conservatives on 15.8%. Norway shares a near-200 km (120 mile) Arctic border with Russia, and the prime minister believes the war in Ukraine has made Norwegians concerned. "The impact of war being fought out there is making a deep impression on people," Stoere told a roundtable with foreign correspondents in May. Topics expected to influence the September 8 election also include the economy, education and healthcare, analysts have said. But unlike in some European countries, none of the parties that are expected to win seats have sought the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump or his movement. REUTERS
Reuters
20-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Norway to meet 5% NATO goal on defence, security spending, prime minister says
OSLO, June 20 (Reuters) - Norway plans to raise its defence spending to 3.5% of the country's GDP, and also aims to use an additional 1.5% for broader security related purposes, its prime minister said on Friday, in line with a planned common goal among NATO states. NATO chief Mark Rutte has proposed that member nations should agree at a June 24-25 meeting in The Hague to aim for spending of a total of 5% of their gross domestic product on defence and broader security measures. "We must do more to secure our country and contribute to our common security with our allies in NATO," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a press conference on Friday. The 3.5% spending includes Norway's financial support to Ukraine's military defence, he said. Norway in 2024 spent an estimated 2.2% of GDP on defence, up from a low of 1.4% in 2022, the national statistics agency (SSB) said in April, and the government said in May it aims to spend 3.3% in 2025.
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Norway to meet 5% NATO goal on defence, security spending, prime minister says
FILE PHOTO: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere speaks during a public discussion ahead of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Tallinn, Estonia December 16, 2024. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo OSLO - Norway plans to raise its defence spending to 3.5% of the country's GDP, and also aims to use an additional 1.5% for broader security related purposes, its prime minister said on Friday, in line with a planned common goal among NATO states. NATO chief Mark Rutte has proposed that member nations should agree at a June 24-25 meeting in The Hague to aim for spending of a total of 5% of their gross domestic product on defence and broader security measures. "We must do more to secure our country and contribute to our common security with our allies in NATO," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a press conference on Friday. The 3.5% spending includes Norway's financial support to Ukraine's military defence, he said. Norway in 2024 spent an estimated 2.2% of GDP on defence, up from a low of 1.4% in 2022, the national statistics agency (SSB) said in April, and the government said in May it aims to spend 3.3% in 2025. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norway's PM, finance minister to meet Trump on April 24 to discuss Ukraine, trade
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on April 24, the prime minister's office announced on April 21. The leaders will discuss the security situation, NATO, the Russia-Ukraine war, and trade, the statement read. Norway's officials will meet the U.S. president after the Trump administration imposed a 15% tariff on goods imported into the U.S. from Norway at the beginning of April. Later, the tariff was lowered to 10% for a 90-day period. "The U.S. is our most important ally, and in a troubled and demanding time for security policy, the close contact between our two countries is very important," Stoere said. "Norway and the U.S. cooperate in a number of areas, and the U.S. is an important trading partner for Norway. I look forward to discussing areas where we can cooperate even more closely in the future," he added. Norway has been one of Ukraine's most committed European backers, providing military aid, humanitarian assistance, and financial support. The country has also played a key role in stabilizing Ukraine's energy sector and hosting Ukrainian refugees. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik announced on April 11 that Norway will allocate 10 billion Norwegian kroner (approximately $937 million) in 2025 to help equip and train a Ukrainian military brigade. Read also: Nearly 100 days of Trump, and Putin is still calling the shots We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Star
21-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Norway's Prime Minister to meet US President Trump on Thursday
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere attends the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) summit in Tallinn, Estonia December 17, 2024. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins OSLO (Reuters) -Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and finance minister Jens Stoltenberg will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, the prime minister's office said. The meeting at the White House will, among other things, cover the security policy situation, NATO and the war in Ukraine as well as trade and business topics, the statement on Monday said. "Norway and the US cooperate in a number of areas, and the US is an important trading partner for Norway. I look forward to talking about areas where we can cooperate even more closely in the future," Stoere said. The Trump administration announced a 15% tariff on goods imported into the United States from Norway as part of a wider, global effort with trading partners around the world. In line with many other countries, the tariff has been lowered to 10% for a 90-day period. (Reporting by Nora Buli in Oslo; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
