October 23, 2019 — Oslo, Norway Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach announced the United States’ 23 new commitments valued at 1.21 billion dollars to promote sustainable fisheries; combat marine debris; and support marine science, observation, and exploration. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) The United States Announced …
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The Government of the Norway will host Our Ocean 2019: Our Ocean, Our Legacy in Oslo, October 23-24, 2019. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach will lead the U.S. government delegation which will include senior officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Oceanic and …
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In an op-ed published in VG on October 2, 2019, Ambassador Braithwaite explained the origins of the NATO 2 percent spending goal and the importance of Norway meeting its 2014 Wales pledge. Below is the English version of the op-ed. As the debate continues over defense spending and Norway reaching the agreed upon pledge of 2% …
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In an op-ed published in VG on August 13, 2019, Ambassador Braithwaite calls on Norway to live up to its 2014 Wales Pledge. Below is the English version of the op-ed. Norway is a magnificent country. From the people to your culture to your geography, beauty is everywhere. As the United States Ambassador, I have now lived amongst …
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During a visit to Finnmark in December, Ambassador Braithwaite attended the opening of the Sami Parliament in Karasjok and met with members of the Sami Council. He also visited Kautokeino, where he experienced traditional Sami hospitality in a lavvu and learned from reindeer experts about the critical role of reindeer herding in the Sami way …
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In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of “Operation Leader”, Ambassador Braithwaite visited the Aviation and War History Museums in Bodø. Operation Leader Operation Leader was a successful and strategically significant maritime operation, in which the United States Navy together with the British Royal Navy, supported by Norwegian intelligence, launched an attack on enemy shipping in …
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On Tuesday, September 11, 2018, Ambassador Ken Braithwaite and Prime Minister Erna Solberg visited U.S. and Norwegian soldiers stationed at Værnes. Ambassador Braithwaite praised the importance of the excellent cold-weather training that the U.S. Marines are getting in Norway. The Prime Minister noted that the cooperation at Værnes was good and helped to strengthen the …
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Please meet our new Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) , Richard Riley! A DCM is the number-two diplomat assigned to the embassy and is considered the second-in-command after the Ambassador. To get to know Mr. Riley, we asked him a couple of questions: Who are you? I have been privileged to have served for the past 26 years as a United …
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On June 28, 2018, at the U.S. Embassy’s annual Independence Day Celebration at the Ambassador’s Residence in Oslo, U.S. Ambassador to Norway Kenneth J. Braithwaite presented the newly established Ambassador’s Award to Norwegian Air Shuttle CEO Bjørn Kjos. A group of NTNU students received the Ambassador’s Young Eagles Award for their project to remove plastics …
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On June 24-26, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, visited Norway, reaffirming the close and longstanding defense relationship between the United States and Norway. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the senior military officer of the Department of the Navy. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO is the principal naval adviser to the …
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On Friday, June 22, 2018, USS Bainbridge sailed into Oslo Harbor. This is the second port call by a U.S. warship in Oslo in eight years. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) arrived in Oslo for a scheduled port visit to enhance U.S.-Norway relations as the two nations work together to strengthen …
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On World Environment Day on June 5, 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Oslo organized a river cleanup along the Akerselva river in Oslo together with the Ministry of Climate and Environment . It was an international group effort! Representatives from the Peruvian , German , Chilean , Danish , British , and Chinese Embassies were there to take part in the cleanup. Organizations Oslo River Forum , Keep Norway Clean and Rusken were …
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On May 30-31, 2018, Ambassador Braithwaite visited Dombås. First, the Ambassador traveled to Dombås train station to visit the place where Captain Robert M. Losey was killed on April 21, 1940. Then followed a Memorial Day Ceremony at Dombås Minnepark where both the Ambassador and the Mayor of Dovre, Bengt Fasteraune, spoke. U.S. Embassy in Oslo’s Air Attaché Aaron …
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On Wednesday May 30, 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Oslo organized a Memorial Day ceremony at the American Forces Memorial at Vestre Gravlund in Oslo. Ambassador Braithwaite laid a wreath at the American Forces Memorial to pay respects to U.S. service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. His Majesty the King’s Guard …
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See Ambassador Braithwaite’s video greeting in connection with Norway’s Constitution Day on May 17, 2018, in the column to the right. On Constitution Day, the Ambassador and his family took part in the celebration in front of the Royal Castle in Oslo and watched the children’s parade. Ambassador Braithwaite and his family was also interviewed …
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Press Statement Mike Pompeo Secretary of State Washington, DC May 16, 2018 On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I extend my warmest congratulations to all Norwegians on your 204th anniversary of Constitution Day. Norway is one of the United States’ strongest partners and Allies. We admire your leadership in NATO, …
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On April 18-19, Ambassador Braithwaite traveled to Bodø. This was his first official trip to Northern Norway as United States Ambassador to Norway. On Wednesday, April 18, the Ambassador visited Norwegian Joint Headquarters (NJHQ). He was welcomed and given a tour by the Commander of the NJHQ Lieutenant General Rune Jakobsen. NJHQ in Bodø is …
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Today, Ambassador Braithwaite met with Prime Minister Erna Solberg at the Prime Minister’s Office in Oslo. They discussed ways to build upon the close and deep-rooted relationship between the United States and Norway. The Ambassador talked enthusiastically about his travels to Bergen, Trondheim and Bodø and told the Prime Minister how impressed he was by …
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Ambassador Kenneth J. Braithwaite traveled to Trondheim March 22-23, 2018. This was a return to the first Norwegian city that the Ambassador had visited. In 1989, the then young Naval Officer Braithwaite visited Norway and Trondheim for the first time to meet with the Royal Norwegian Navy. The visit left such an impression on him, …
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Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 Location: KPMG, Sørkedalsveien 6, Majorstua, Oslo Want to learn more about how to grow your business in the U.S.? The U.S. Embassy welcomes you to join us at the SelectUSA Investment Seminar in Oslo on Tuesday, April 17th. Organized by the U.S. Embassy, SelectUSA, KPMG, and the American Chamber of …
Read More» Rising Leaders is an initiative of the Embassy of the United States of America and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Norway to provide access for young, up-and-coming leaders from diverse backgrounds to high-level representatives of the established business community. The initiative will hold quarterly events that will allow participants to engage business leaders, learn about AmCham member companies, …
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College Day Oslo on March 15th was a success! Around 250-300 students attended the college fair, which was hosted for the sixth time at Oslo Handelsgymnasium. With more than 16 U.S. institutions present and several European programs, students had a wide variety to choose from. Some of the most popular universities present were the well-known schools such as …
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On March 8-9, 2018, Ambassador Kenneth J. Braithwaite traveled to Bergen for his first official trip as U.S. Ambassador to Norway. The Bergen visit started on March 8, with a meeting with Bergen’s Mayor Marte Mjøs Persen. Afterwards, the Ambassador met with the Bergen business community in a lunch meeting organized by the Bergen Chamber …
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On March 7, 2018, Ambassador Braithwaite sent 14 pizzas to his colleague and friend, Norway’s Ambassador to the United States Kåre Aas. Why, you may ask? It all started with this tweet: Ambassador Aas challenged Ambassador Braithwaite to an Olympic Medal Count bet, and Ambassador Braithwaite accepted the challenge. See the whole story of …
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On Thursday, February 15, 2018, Ambassador Braithwaite met with Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo. They discussed ways to deepen and broaden the already great relationship between the United States and Norway. Foreign Minister Søreide noted how good it would be to match our excellent security-defense cooperation …
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On Thursday, February 8, 2018, U.S. Ambassador Kenneth J. Braithwaite presented his credentials to Norway’s Head of State, His Majesty King Harald V, and was thereby formally accredited as U.S. Ambassador to Norway. Newly-appointed ambassadors to Norway present their credentials to the King at a formal audience. The formality of the time-honored ceremony, which harks back to the beginnings …
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More than 90 nuclear security experts participated in a workshop in Oslo, Norway, from January 17‑19, 2018, to strengthen best practices and promote international cooperation in the field of nuclear forensics. The workshop, organized by the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) , the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) , and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) , in association with the U.S. Department of State , brought together experts from the region, Europe, United …
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On Tuesday January 16, 2018, in honor of Religious Freedom Day, Chargé d’Affaires Jim DeHart welcomed 30 youth leaders from an array of religious communities in Norway to the Villa Otium for roundtable discussions on religious freedom. The U.S. Embassy invited Norwegian youth from religious groups and organizations such as Alnaskolen, Islamic Cultural Center, Humanistisk …
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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s remarks with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide before their meeting: SECRETARY TILLERSON: Good morning, all. I want to welcome the Norwegian Foreign Minister Soreide to the State Department. Look forward to having some very important exchanges on a number of issues important to us in NATO, the Europe …
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Today, President Donald J. Trump welcomed Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg to the White House . At a joint press conference with the Prime Minister, President Trump said, “For decades, Norwegians and Americans have stood side by side against common threats to our freedom, our security, and our values…Today, we remain united in our efforts to confront …
Read More» President Donald J. Trump will welcome Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway to the White House on January 10, 2018. President Trump looks forward to exchanging views on the bilateral ties between the United States and Norway, and how jointly to advance regional and global security, and economic prosperity. The President and Prime Minister will …
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To celebrate the arrival of the F35 aircraft, the United States Air Force Brass Band Quintet visited Trondheim and Ørland. The brass quintet held a “Masterclass” for Byåsen Skole Musikkorps, where students got a great concert with famous tunes from among others Frost and Star Wars. After the concert, the Air Force band gave a …
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A ceremony at Ørland Air Station today – the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s 73rd anniversary – will mark the arrival of the first three F-35 combat aircraft to Norway. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a 5th generation multi-role aircraft. It represents one of the most important military procurements ever, ensuring that Norwegian Armed Forces …
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Start-ups and small companies play a key role in the Norwegian and U.S. economy. Not only because they provide jobs, but also because they offer solutions to some of the most challenging problems of our time. The U.S. firmly believe exchange of views and ideas, access to each other markets, talents capital and technologies drives …
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From October 27 to 31, USS Oscar Austin was docked in Oslo Harbor. This is the first port call by a U.S. warship in Oslo in eight years. During its stay in Oslo, newly appointed Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen went onboard the ship and met with its captain, Commander Samantha Dutily. Commander Dutily also met …
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On Friday, October 27, USS Oscar Austin sailed into Oslo Harbor. This is the first port call by a U.S. warship in Oslo in eight years. USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. Oscar Austin is named for Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipient Private First Class …
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Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer visited Oslo, Værnes, and Bergen October 8th to 11th, 2017. The trip was his first official trip abroad since being sworn in on August 3rd, 2017. During the visit to Oslo, he met with Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide and Chief of Defense Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen. …
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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford visited Oslo, Vealøs, and Værnes, Norway from September 17-20 at the invitation of his Norwegian counterpart, Chief of Defense Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen. During the visit to Oslo, he had an audience with King Harald V of Norway and met with Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide. The …
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Every year, the U.S. Embassy chooses one Norwegian youth, among many Norwegian youth applicants, to be the Norwegian participant in the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship Summer Institute (BFTF). BFTF is a youth program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and Department of State , and hosted by Wake Forest University . In BFTF, 55 young students, aged 16-18, representing 44 countries, come together to …
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On Thursday, August 25, 2017, the U.S. Embassy in Oslo opened its doors to its new neighbors for a chance for them to have a look around, chat with embassy employees, and enjoy cookies, ice cream, and coffee. The U.S. Embassy in Oslo moved to Makrellbekken in May 2017 after having been located for 58 …
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On August 4, U.S. Embassy Political-Military Officer Douglas Flitter attended the 2017 Amerikafest in the town of Åkrehamn on Karmøy. Karmøy is a fishing community which saw nearly half of its population emigrate to the U.S. when their main source of income, herring, dried up in the late 1950s. Many of these immigrants went on …
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On Tuesday, 27 June 2017, at the Nammo Corporate Headquarters and Production Facilities at Raufoss, Chargé d’affaires Jim DeHart spoke at the Nammo and Raytheon contract ceremony. The ceremony celebrated Nammo’s recently signed contract with Raytheon to produce rocket motors for the latest generation of AIM-9X Block II “Sidewinder” missile. The contract represents a significant milestone in the …
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On Thursday, June 22, 2017, more that 1,100 guests gathered in the garden of Villa Otium to celebrate the 241st anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America. Chargé d’Affaires noted in his speech that the good thing about celebrating Independence Day in June is that you get to do it all over …
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The granite sculpture of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) is located close to Akershus fortress in Oslo. It was unveiled on June 7, 1950, by the President’s widow Eleanor Roosevelt. The monument was funded through a nationwide fundraising to show gratitude for U.S. aid to Norway during and after the war. The sculpture is made by Stinius Fredriksen …
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WASHINGTON, May 18, 2017 — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis yesterday met with Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide at the Pentagon, where he praised the longstanding defense relationship between the United States and Norway, according to chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White. Extensive Military-to-Military Cooperation Mattis and Søreide reaffirmed the extensive military-to-military cooperation between the …
Read More» Press Statement Rex W. Tillerson Secretary of State Washington, DC May 17, 2017 On behalf of President Trump and the American people, I congratulate Norway on the 203rd anniversary of Constitution Day. Almost five million Americans trace their origins to Norway, and the Norwegian-American community has played a proud role in U.S. history. Those close …
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Did you know that the embassy building was considered to be an architectural masterpiece and a monument of the friendship between Norway and the U.S. when it opened in 1959? In this video, you will see newspaper clippings and photos of the building from the year it opened. Read more about the embassy building designed by …
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The triangular U.S. Embassy building in Oslo, designed by renowned Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, opened in 1959 and was considered an architectural masterpiece at the time. In this video you will see newspaper clippings and photos of the building from the year it opened. The U.S. Embassy is moving to Huseby on May 12 and …
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On Tuesday, April 18, 2017, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives met with Prime Minister Erna Solberg at the Prime Minister’s residence in Oslo. The trip to Norway, which lasted from April 17-19, also included meetings with Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide and Foreign Minister …
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Florence Jaffray Harriman was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Norway from 1937 until 1940. ( The United States chose to use the title Minister instead of Ambassador in several countries in Europe well into the 19th century .) World War II Escape Harriman came to the country during a troubling pre-war period. On April 9, 1940, Germany invaded Norway. The Germans were slowed by coastal guns at Oscarsborg Fortress that managed to sink the German cruiser …
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Earlier this month, students at Hegra Upper Secondary School welcomed a group of U.S. Marines to their classrooms. The Marines are part of the Marine Rotational Force Europe 17.1 who are currently deployed at Værnes, and they talked to 8th, 9th, and 10th grades about their Norwegian experience. The Marine Corps’ presence in Norway allows for …
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On Wednesday, March 1, 2017, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende at the State Department in Washington.
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