Transatlantic Diplomacy after 9/11: The U.S. and Norway

These interviews with American and Norwegian policymakers, security experts, and diplomats offer a first-hand window into understanding diplomatic relations between the two nations, and the impact of U.S. foreign policy both at home and abroad.This project explores Norway's involvement the Global War on Terror, the role of individual personalities in shaping Norway’s foreign relations, U.S. and Norwegian public opinion, and potential lessons to be learned for other small state actors.

Click on the profiles below to find the video interviews, transcripts, and additional resources for each oral history.

   

SMU Project Leaders

LaiYee Leong (Project Leader), Brian Franklin (Editor), and Polina DeClue & Wardah Alvi (Student Research Assistants)


"Firsthand History" Podcast

Season 1 - Cross Currents

"Cross Currents" is the first season of our new podcast series "Firsthand History." In this 4-episode series, CPH fellow LaiYee Leong explores the relationship--and tension--that developed between the United States and its longtime NATO ally Norway after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Each episode weaves narrative with pieces of the oral histories Dr. Leong conducted with Norwegian and U.S. officials, including prime ministers, ambassadors, journalists, scholars, and more.

You can find the entire season of "Cross Currents" here.


Project Description

For a detailed description of this oral history project on U.S.-Norway, click here


Interviewees: 

Kjell Magne Bondevik
Prime Minister of Norway (1997-2000, 2001-2005)

Kristin Krohn Devold
Minister of Defence (2001-2005)

Kristoffer Egeberg
Editor-in-Chief of Faktisk.no and author of Fredsnasjonen Norge (The Peace Nation Norway, 2017)

Espen Barth Eide
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (2000-2001)
Deputy Minister of Defense (2005-2010)
Minister of Defense (2011-2012)
Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012-2013)

Kristin Halvorsen
Minister of Finance (2005-2009)
Minister of Education (2009-2013)

Hilde Frafjord Johnson
Minister for International Development (1997-2000, 2001-2005)

John Ong
U.S. Ambassador to Norway (2002-2005)

Jan Petersen
Minister of Foreign Affairs (2001-2005)

Jonas Gahr Støre
Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005-2012)
Minister of Health (2012-2013)

Sven Erik Svedman
Ambassador to France (2003-2005)
Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005-2007)
Ambassador to Germany (2007-2014)

Rolf Tamnes
Director of Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies (1996-2012)

Asle Toje
Research Director at the Norwegian Nobel Institute (2014-2018)
Member of Norwegian Nobel Committee (2018-present)

Knut Vollebæk
Foreign Minister (1997-2000)
Ambassador to the U.S. (2001-2007)

Morten Wetland
Ambassador to Germany (1998-2003)
State Secretary, Prime Minister's Office (2005-2008)
Ambassador to the United Nations (2008-2012)

Benson Whitney
U.S. Ambassador to Norway (2006-2009)