– It will be a topic that is not on the agenda, but that everyone is concerned about, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) to NTB.
He is among the nearly 50 heads of state who will gather for a summit in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, on Thursday.
It will naturally be influenced by the election in the United States.
– Will not take Ukraine lightly
NTB interviews Støre on election day itself, Tuesday, at a time when no one dares to predict the outcome. The result may not be clear for several days.
Støre himself does not seem significantly troubled.
– Firstly: An American president will see the day after the election the importance of having European allies and stability in Europe, that it is also in the American interest.
– And the second is that an American president will have to deal with Ukraine’s situation and take it seriously. I think it will apply anyway, says Støre.
Ukraine is among the issues that top the agenda at the EPC meeting. In the EU, there has been great concern as to whether a Trump victory will lead to Ukraine having to enter into an “unfair” peace agreement with Russia.
Støre is of a slightly different opinion.
– What Russia is now doing, with North Korea as support and the type of warfare that is now going on, no American president is going to say that we can take this lightly.
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On your own feet
Apart from Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, which threatens to escalate further, and a possible trade war between the US and the EU form a rather gloomy backdrop.
Because both Harris and Trump will take the US in a more protectionist direction. And both will increasingly focus on China.
But regardless of who wins the election, Europe must become better able to stand on its own two feet, states the Prime Minister.
– In the future, Europe will have to take a much greater responsibility for its own security, says Støre.
Trade wars can have consequences
How a possible trade war is handled by the EU will have great significance for Norway.
– Norway is part of the internal market through the EEA. And when the EU is now discussing the capital market, the telecommunications market and the energy market, Norway must follow very carefully, says Støre, who is concerned that Norway must not be faced by customs walls in the EU.
– This is also about security, because trade and economic cooperation also have to do with security policy, he says.
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Energy security
Støre also highlights Europe’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
– It was part of the crisis in spring 2022 that the withdrawal of Russian gas had such a negative impact. You can see the effect of that in Germany. So I think energy security and the link to normal security policy is an important topic, he says.
Norway is now the largest single supplier of gas to the EU.
– The transition must take place in a way that does not create large deficits in energy supplies to Europe, says Støre.
More cooperation on defence
At the same time, Norway is working to link itself ever more closely to defense cooperation in the EU. In May this year, Norway entered into a strategic partnership with the EU in the area of security and defence.
The EU is now working on a new, comprehensive program for the defense industry – the European Defense Investment Program (EDIP). From the Norwegian side, it is seen as crucial that Norway is allowed to participate
– We have a close dialogue with the European Commission in this area. This is important for safety, but it is also important for Norwegian industry.
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