Latest news with #Stoere
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
Epoch Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Norway's PM Set to Visit White House to Strengthen Ties, Navigate Tariffs
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. Topics of discussion will include trade and regional security, among other issues, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt 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. Related Stories 1/31/2025 12/16/2024 '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. Norway is also providing aid and funding operations in the region, to the tune of more than 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. 'Norway is a great customer, and a great ally,' Trump '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. The meeting follows an April 23 '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.'
South China Morning Post
06-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Norway faces ‘serious security situation', must hike Ukraine aid, PM says
Norway should boost financial aid to Ukraine and hike its own defence spending, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Thursday, declaring the country faced its most serious security situation for 80 years. Advertisement Norway, home to the world's largest sovereign wealth fund with assets of US$1.8 trillion, has seen soaring income from gas sales to Europe as a result of Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion, and faces pressure at home and abroad to boost its aid. Stoere's move marks the latest example of a European country scrambling to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump froze US military aid to Kyiv and fuelled doubts about its commitment to European Nato allies. The Nordic nation now faces 'the most serious security situation for our country since World War II', Stoere said in an address to parliament. A soldier stands guard, assisting the police with increased security, at the Karst gas processing plant in the Rogaland county, Norway. Norway has seen soaring income from gas sales to Europe as a result of Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion. Photo: AFP Parliament last year agreed to spend 35 billion crowns (US$3.22 billion) on military and civilian support for Ukraine in 2025, increasing the total framework, dubbed the Nansen programme, to 155 billion crowns from 2023 to 2030. Advertisement
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Norway should significantly raise its aid to Ukraine, PM says
OSLO (Reuters) - Norway should significantly increase its financial aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told parliament on Thursday. Parliament last year agreed to spend 35 billion Norwegian crowns ($3.22 billion) on military and civilian support for Ukraine in 2025, increasing the total framework, dubbed the Nansen programme, to 155 billion crowns from 2023 to 2030. "I want to propose to the other parties in parliament that we meet this afternoon to discuss and agree on a significant increase in the Nansen programme for Ukraine this year," Stoere said. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "We will organise our expanded support so that it provides the greatest possible fighting power as quickly as possible," Stoere said, while adding that the government also plans to further boost Norway's own military. It marks the latest example of a European country scrambling to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump froze U.S. military aid to Kyiv and fuelled doubts about its commitment to European NATO allies. The Nansen programme is Norway's cross-party, bilateral aid programme for Ukraine, named after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen.
Reuters
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Norway should significantly raise its aid to Ukraine, PM says
OSLO, March 6 (Reuters) - Norway should significantly increase its financial aid to Ukraine, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told parliament on Thursday. Parliament last year agreed to spend 35 billion Norwegian crowns ($3.22 billion) on military and civilian support for Ukraine in 2025, increasing the total framework, dubbed the Nansen programme, to 155 billion crowns from 2023 to 2030. "I want to propose to the other parties in parliament that we meet this afternoon to discuss and agree on a significant increase in the Nansen programme for Ukraine this year," Stoere said. "We will organise our expanded support so that it provides the greatest possible fighting power as quickly as possible," Stoere said, while adding that the government also plans to further boost Norway's own military. It marks the latest example of a European country scrambling to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump froze U.S. military aid to Kyiv and fuelled doubts about its commitment to European NATO allies. The Nansen programme is Norway's cross-party, bilateral aid programme for Ukraine, named after Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen.
