Norway's 'key task' in NATO is to ensure stable energy supply to Europe: Foreign minister

Lessons learned from last year have shown link between security, energy security, says Anniken Huitfeldt

2023-05-31 18:40:20

OSLO, Norway

Norway's foreign minister on Wednesday said Oslo's "key task" as a NATO member is to ensure a stable energy supply to Europe.

Anniken Huitfeldt's remarks came in a news conference that launched the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Norway's capital Oslo.

"We have 80 installations at sea and almost 8,800 kilometers (5,468 miles) of pipelines. We take our responsibility as the main supplier of gas to Europe very, very seriously," Huitfeldt said.

"The lessons learned from the last year have shown the link between security and energy security and we welcome NATO's engagement in efforts to protect critical infrastructure on the seabed."

Since Russia's war on Ukraine began in February 2022, European countries have been frantically searching for alternatives to Russian gas imports as gas prices surged after the Russian energy company Gazprom halted natural gas shipments to Europe during the first year of the war.

It is crucial for Norway to host the gathering while there is a war in Europe, she noted, saying a primary focus for discussions during the meeting will be "continued support for Ukraine."

On Kosovo clashes, she "fully" agrees with Tuesday's remarks of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on sending 700 additional troops to the region and keeping a battalion on heightened alert so it can also be deployed if needed.

Huitfeldt also urged for the de-escalation of tensions in Kosovo, where at least 30 NATO soldiers were injured.

Regarding Sweden's bid to be a NATO member, she said: "Sweden must become a fully-fledged NATO member as soon as possible, and before the summit in (the Lithuanian capital) Vilnius in July."

"With the Nordic region united in NATO, the alliance will be even stronger," Huitfeldt added.

Huitfeldt told Anadolu, following the meeting, that foreign ministers will discuss how they can increase the support to Ukraine so that it can regain its own territory.

However, due to the nature of an informal meeting -the second one in NATO history- she said they would only prepare for the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius in July so they can take a decision on a further assistance package, especially military aid.

She also mentioned Norway's support program for Ukraine, which is recently adopted by the country's parliament, and said they aim to provide almost €7 billion ($7.4 billion) to Kyiv in a five-year period.

The two-day informal meeting in Oslo is chaired by the alliance's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Recent clashes in Kosovo and supporting Ukraine will remain at the top of the foreign ministers' agenda.

Sweden's accession to NATO after Finland will also be one of the priorities of the meeting. The country is joining the event as a NATO invitee.