Norway–Russia relations explained

Norway–Russia relations (Norwegian: Forholdet mellom Norge og Russland Russian: Норвежско-российские отношения or Российско-норвежские отношения) are the bilateral foreign relations between the two countries, Norway and Russia. The establishment of diplomatic relationships between the two countries happened on October 30, 1905, four days after the establishment of Norway's independence.^[1] Russia has an embassy in Oslo and consulates in Barentsburg and Kirkenes, and Norway has an embassy in Moscow, and consulates in Murmansk and Saint Petersburg. The countries are neighboring each other along a 195.7 km (121.6 mi) long border. Norway is on Russia's Unfriendly Countries List.

Timeline

1537–1814

Denmark handled the foreign relations of Norway during this period. Denmark and Russia were in general allies against their mutual enemy Sweden. See Denmark–Russia relations.

1814–1905

Sweden handled the foreign relations of Norway during this period. The Norway–Russia border was defined in 1826.

After 1991

• On 27 April, 2010, Norway and Russia officially resolved the territorial dispute in the Barents Sea.^[2]
• Akhmed Zakayev's visit to Oslo Freedom Forum in May 2012, led to formal complaints by Russia.^[3]
• In July 2020, Norway expelled a Russian diplomat on suspicion of espionage.^[4]
• Norway joined other countries in spring 2022 in declaring three Russian diplomats persona non grata.
• In April 2022 Norway introduced a ban on Russia ships entering ports, with the exception of fishing boats who may enter 3 ports but have restrictions applied to them.^[5]
• In October 2022 a man known as José Assis Giammaria was arrested in Norway. Posing as a Brazilian, he was an intern at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and involved with the Center for Peace Studies. Identified as Russian national Mikhail Valerievich Mikushin, believed to be a Colonel in the GRU, the suspect has been charged with gathering intelligence linked to state secrets. ^[6]
• In April 2023 Norway expelled 15 Russian diplomats on suspicion of spying.^[7] Russia promptly responded by expelling 10 Norwegian diplomats and in August added Norway to its list of unfriendly countries.^[8]
• Norway has been imposing the sanctions on Russia and Belarus recommended by the EU since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
• The border between Russia and Norway has remained open.^[9]

Strains in bilateral relations

The environmentally harmful emissions from the Norilsk Nickel plant outside Nikel in the Murmansk Oblast^[10] have been for decades an unresolved issue in then Norwegian–Soviet, and now Norwegian–Russian relations.

Formerly there was a territorial dispute over the Barents Sea, but on 27 April 2010, Norway and Russia officially resolved the territorial debate.^[11]

A 2017 Kremlin maritime threat assessment which was sent to President Vladimir Putin highlighted Norway as a perceived threat and therefore a potential cause of naval conflict.^[12]

In December 2017, Frode Berg, a Norwegian citizen, was arrested in Russia on allegations of having operated a spy ring in the country since 2015, and was detained at Lefortovo Prison.^[13] In 2017, hackers believed to be Russians targeted the Labour Party.^[13]

There has long been tension over the GLOBUS radar installation in Vardø, which Russian officials believe to be part of a United States missile defense system. Two mock airstrikes involving Russian fighter jets and bombers were executed against the town in 2017 and 2018, each time pulling short of violating Norwegian airspace, and in 2019 a Bal coastal missile system was deployed 70 km from the radar system, just 35 km from the Norwegian-Russian land border.^{[14] [15] [16] [17]}

In popular culture

The fictional political thriller TV series Occupied is based on a hypothetical strain in relations between the two countries after Norway ceases fossil fuel production in response to a climate crisis. It is available on Netflix in many countries.

Vyacheslav Pavlovsky, the Russian ambassador to Norway, told Russian News Agency TASS in 2015,

It is certainly a shame that, in the year of the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II, the authors have seemingly forgotten the Soviet Army's heroic contribution to the liberation of northern Norway from Nazi occupiers, decided, in the worst traditions of the Cold War, to scare Norwegian spectators with the nonexistent threat from the east.^{[18] [19]}

The Russian embassy had been informed in an early stage of the work on the series.^[20]

See also

• Norway–Soviet Union relations
• Norway–Russia border
• Pomor trade

Literature

• Соседи на Крайнем Севере: Россия и Норвегия: От первых контактов до Баренцева сотрудничества. Учебное пособие / Под ред. Т. Т. Фёдоровой. — Мурманск: Мурманское книжное издательство, 2001. — 384 с. — 1000 экз. —

External links

• Norwegian embassy in Moscow
• Russian embassy in Oslo

Notes and References

1. Web site: Норвегия в России. Norgesportalen. 16 April 2018.
2. Web site: Norway, Russia agree on Barents Sea border. therightperspective.org. 16 April 2018.
3. Kristoffer Rønneberg Skarp russisk protest mot Norge; Russiske myndigheter rasende over at tsjetsjensk eksilleder deltok på en fredskonferanse i Oslo. 19 May 2012 Aftenposten "Nå har Russland sendt en note – en formell, diplomatisk klage – til den norske ambassaden i Moskva."
4. Anton Kolodyazhnyy (August 28, 2020), Russia summons Norwegian ambassador over expulsion of Russian diplomat - RIA Reuters.
5. Web site: Norwegian businesses expected to comply with sanctions on Russian fishing fleet . 12 May 2023.
6. News: Norway charges man accused of being Russian spy . BBC News . 28 October 2022.
7. Web site: Norway expels 15 Russian diplomats suspected of spying . . 13 April 2023.
8. Web site: Russia adds Norway to its list of unfriendly countries . 3 August 2023.
9. Web site: Norway keeps border to Russia open . 25 June 2023.
10. News: Antonova, Maria . Balancing Growth and Environment . . July 25, 2008 . April 27, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080803173348/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/369177.htm. dead. 2008-08-03.
11. News: Dyomkin . Denis . Fouche . Gwladys . 2010-04-27 . UPDATE 3-Russia and Norway strike Arctic sea border deal . en . . live . 2022-08-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160410055951/https://www.reuters.com/article/norway-russia-barents-idUSLDE63Q14D20100427 . 2016-04-10.
12. Web site: Kremlin maritime threat assessment highlights Norway as potential cause of naval conflict - Jane's 360. www.janes.com. 16 April 2018.
13. . October 3, 2018 . The New Cold Front in Russia's Information War . Reid . Standish . https://web.archive.org/web/20181004142533/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/10/03/the-new-cold-front-in-russias-information-war-nato-norway/ . October 4, 2018.
14. Web site: Nilsen . Thomas . Norway says Russia's mock attack on Vardø radar troubles stability in the north . The Barents Observer . 21 December 2020 . 13 March 2018.
15. Web site: Nilsen . Thomas . Moscow threatens response against Norwegian radar near Russian border . The Barents Observer . 21 December 2020 . 23 May 2019.
16. Web site: O'Connor . Tom . Russia Will 'Take Measures' Against U.S. Radar Near Its Border, Thought to Be Part of Missile Defense . Newsweek . 22 December 2020 . 23 May 2019.
17. Web site: Nilsen . Thomas . Russia deploys missile system 70 km from Norway's Vardø radar . The Barents Observer . 30 December 2020 . 7 August 2019.
18. News: Bershidsky . Leonid . Norwegian TV taps into fear of Russia . Bloomberg View . 2015-08-28 . 2015-09-06 .
19. Web site: How Norwegian TV is cashing in on fears of Vladimir Putin's Russia . . subscription . 31 August 2015 . 6 September 2015 .
20. News: Fictional Russian invasion sparks row with Moscow . . 30 August 2015 . 24 February 2018 .