Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rejects US Reselling of Norwegian Weapons

From several sources, Dagbladet has now confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is the ministry that manages Norwegian arms exports, does not think it is OK for the US to be able to resell Norwegian weapons as American.

The foundation of an arms deal Dagbladet revealed last year is shaking.

Two little words

Then Dagbladet could reveal that The USA and Norway worked on an agreement in which the USA would be able to resell Norwegian weapons to American allies – even if these were countries to which Norway did not sell weapons, for example because they violate human rights.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are two examples of countries that buy large quantities of weapons from the USA, but to which Norway does not export. Both are accused a number of times of being behind war crimes in Yemen.

Dagbladet also revealed a so-called teaming agreement between Kongsberg Gruppen and American Raytheonwhere Raytheon could sell Norwegian missiles according to “Norwegian and/or American regulations”.

Strong reactions

The wording – “and/or” – caused a number of politicians and organizations to rage, and the matter was up for hearing in the Storting.

Particularly strong reactions came from the fact that the agreement was not mentioned anywhere in the government’s export control notice.

– The government should remember that they do not have a majority, came ice-cold from Ingrid Fiskaa (SV).

However, there was not a majority for the agreement to receive full parliamentary consideration, and it seemed that the agreement was ready to go.

– Inevitably

Now Dagbladet can reveal that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in internal discussions with the Ministry of Defence, has said no.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not approve the teaming agreement between Kongsberg and Raytheon, Dagbladet has been confirmed by several sources.

In an e-mail to Dagbladet, State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson writes that strict export control “is an essential prerequisite” for Norwegian arms exports.

– The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot comment on commercial matters. At the same time, we would like to deny that the ministry has been involved in any agreements of the type Dagbladet refers to. This is the same message that the Minister for Foreign Affairs conveyed to the Storting – Question Time on 20 October last year and written response to [Rødt-leder Bjørnar] Moxnes 20 February. The government is concerned with robust defense industry cooperation between Norway and the USA, among other things for better delivery security for ourselves and our allies. At the same time, a strict export control is an indispensable prerequisite.

Dagbladet has asked the following follow-up questions, to which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not answered:

“Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs think that it is okay to export weapons according to Norwegian and/or American regulations? Yes or no?”

Does FD agree?

Dagbladet is informed by several sources that the matter has been discussed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the FD.

Dagbladet has asked the Ministry of Defense if they agree with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. FD will not answer that.

– As far as I understand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to this inquiry, writes Birgitte Frisch, senior adviser in the FD, in an e-mail.

She adds:

– And it is also the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that is the correct addressee, not the FD.

Ronny Lie, communications manager at Kongsberg Gruppen, does not want to comment on the matter.