U.S. Relations With Norway
More information about Norway is available on the Norway Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-NORWAY RELATIONS
The United States established diplomatic relations with Norway in 1905, following Norway's separation from its union with Sweden. The United States and Norway enjoy a long tradition of friendly relations based on democratic values and mutual respect. The United States and Norway work closely together on a wide range of issues that are of importance to our nations and to the rest of the world. Norway is a co-founder and steadfast strategic Ally in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It hosts and participates in NATO exercises and in operations with Allies and Partners, and is a contributor to the, NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which provides training, advice and support to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. Norway is also an active member of the Counter-ISIL Coalition, and has deployed trainers in Iraq in the support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Norway is deeply committed to democracy and development cooperation, as highlighted by a generous foreign aid budget of around $4 billion in 2014, which constitutes almost 1% of the country’s GDP. The United States and Norway are two of the eight founding members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), a multilateral effort that supports national initiatives to promote transparency, fight corruption, strengthen accountability, and empower citizens. Our countries are also members of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), committed to reaching an additional quarter of a billion children to provide them with life-saving prevention by 2015. In addition to its generous humanitarian spirit, Norway actively promotes universal human rights and economic development, and seeks the peaceful resolution of disputes around the globe.
Norway takes a keen interest in addressing the problems posed by climate change, including a focus on clean energy technology, expanding access to renewable energy forest protection, and increasing agricultural productivity. The United States and Norway have led the development of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, which supports actions aimed at addressing the public health, food and energy security and climate consequences of short-lived climate pollutants. As the host of the Standing Secretariat of the Arctic Council, Norway is a strong advocate and leader for economic, energy, and environmental cooperation in the Arctic.
Nearly five million Americans claim Norwegian ancestry, almost equal to Norway’s own population. Both countries are working to encourage greater educational exchange opportunities.
U.S. Assistance to Norway
The United States provides no development assistance to Norway.
Bilateral Economic Relations
The United States and Norway have a dynamic economic partnership that is creating jobs, driving the development of safe and secure energy sources, and fostering a healthy environment. As the world’s third largest exporter of natural gas and tenth largest exporter of oil, Norway plays an important stabilizing role in energy markets and energy security. Many U.S. companies participate in Norway’s petroleum sector, and vice versa. Norway is the only developed country to have achieved compliant status under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). In September, the United States committed to implement the EITI as part of its OGP National Action Plan. The United States and Norway are also committed to increasing access to modern energy services for the 1.4 billion people on the planet today who do not have any access to energy.
U.S. exports to Norway include aircraft, machinery, optic and medical instruments, inorganic chemicals, and passenger cars. U.S. imports from Norway include mineral fuel and oil, machinery, nickel and nickel products, and Atlantic salmon. Reported U.S. direct investment in Norway is led by the mining and manufacturing sectors. Software and IT services, coal, oil and natural gas, and metals, account for the top three sectors in Norway's reported direct investment in the United States.
Norway's Membership in International Organizations and Fora
Norway and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations and fora, including the African Development Bank, Arctic Council, Asian Development Bank, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Inter-American Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, United Nations, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Norway also is an observer to the Organization of American States.
Bilateral Representation
The position of U.S. Ambassador to Norway is currently vacant; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.
Norway maintains an Embassy in the United States at 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-333-6000).
More information about Norway is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
Department of State Norway Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Norway Page
U.S. Embassy: Norway
History of U.S. Relations With Norway
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Travel and Business Information
U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Norway Report