Støre will speak with NATO allies before controversial conference – VG
BERLIN (VG) Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) says that Norway will talk to Germany before the controversial UN conference on the ban on nuclear weapons, and expects no strong reactions from other NATO allies.
It attracted attention and reactions from the United States when the Støre government announced that it would be an observer at the conference on banning nuclear weapons – contrary to NATO’s line.
Norway was the first country in NATO to announce its participation in the UN-led meeting with the countries that have bound themselves to the treaty.
Now Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has received political backing from his German colleague, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who also wants participate.
– My impression is that they are planning for it, says Støre to VG.
Støre himself believes that it is unproblematic for Norway’s relations with the United States and NATO that we participate in the conference, which will be held in Vienna in March.
– I take this with low shoulders. Neither Germany nor Norway will accede to this treaty, for reasons that are quite similar. But we find it right to follow what happens in talks about disarmament, he says.
Must have calmed down
The NATO military alliance, of which Norway is a part, is against unilateral disarmament.
According to VG’s information, the government’s impression is that the shoulders around Norway’s participation have sunk with the NATO allies after Germany also announced that they would participate.
– VG has previously written that Norway received feedback from the US when the Hurdal platform was ready. Have you received any new feedback from allies about your participation?
– Not like I’ve had with me lately. What is new is that Germany has made the same assessment as Norway. I think it is perceived, says Støre.
– We are there as an observer. There is so little happening in the disarmament area in Norway has the full capacity to be present and listen to what is happening where it is happening. I think our NATO allies, when they see the realities of it, will relate well to it, he adds.
Norway wants a NATO dialogue
In October, VG was confirmed by several sources at the US authorities to quickly contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with questions about this point in the Hurdal platform:
“The government wants Norway to participate as an observer in the state party meetings of the treaty banning nuclear weapons.”
Germany’s new government, led by the APS’s sister party SPD, has also said it will participate, but that it will first consult its allies.
– Germany wants an open dialogue with the allies first: Norway also wants it, even if it does not say so in the Hurdal platform, says Støre.
Participates with diplomat
– At what level should you take it diplomatically? Last arriving UD aspirant?
– No, but it will be at an appropriate diplomatic level. This is not a place to stand on a political level, he says.
He says that it is natural that Norway will pay for some of the costs after a fraction to participate as an observer.
– Can Norway ever join this treaty?
– Not the way it is designed now. It has also made it very clear, he says, referring to NATO’s nuclear weapons strategy.
– We are a member of an alliance that has both obligations and structure that the agreement as it is now designed does not allow for. We want to emphasize speed in disarmament, which is mutual and balanced, so that you get down on both parties. Unilateral disarmament is not a recipe for good disarmament, says Støre.