Opening Remarks – Henry Bacon Seminar 2025
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Honored Guests, Distinguished Colleagues, and Friends,
It is a true honor to stand before you today, 80 years after the heroic sacrifices made by the S.S. Henry Bacon’s crew.
In February 1945, a Liberty ship of that name began transporting 19 Norwegian refugees out of the Arctic. The ship became separated from its convoy and was attacked by Nazi submarines and aircraft.
The American crew fought bravely, but the ship was torpedoed and began to sink.
The captain then made a remarkable decision: He gave the ship’s only two intact lifeboats to the refugees.
Twenty-two American sailors lost their lives. All nineteen Norwegians were saved.
On this 80th anniversary, we remember the soldiers’ sacrifice. But we also reflect on the values they embodied: duty, courage, resilience, and a profound commitment to protecting others.
Their bravery serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between Norway and the United States, forged in wartime and strengthened through decades of partnership.
The convoy was coming from Murmansk – Russia’s ice-free Arctic port. It is located close to the Norwegian border.
Murmansk remains a critical naval hub for Russia – especially in winter – along with Kaliningrad in the Baltic and the Crimean bases in the Black Sea. But Murmansk is much easier to operate from.
Just a few days ago, we saw President Putin on Russian state media. Russia was launching a new submarine from Murmansk.
Their conventional forces have been weakened by the brutal invasion of Ukraine. So these strategic capabilities have grown even more important to Russia.
The Arctic – once seen as a remote and stable region – is now a focal point of global power competition.
Strategic interest in the Arctic is intensifying. Climate change is opening up new waterways and access to untapped resources.
Yesterday, I was in Fort Worth, Texas. I say goodbye to the last three F-35 aircrafts produced there for Norway. It was a very special moment for me.
I still remember being at Ørland Air Base in 2017 when we received the first aircraft. I was Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense.
I was also a Cabinet Minister back in 2008, when the Norwegian Government made the decision to purchase the F-35.
That year marked a turning point in European security. Our Prime Minister at the time, Jens Stoltenberg – who was later NATO Secretary General – remarked that the Norwegian Armed Forces knew more about the valleys of Afghanistan than the fjords of Norway.
We made a substantial contribution in Afghanistan, alongside the United States.
In fact, when we withdrew in 2021, the last two flags flying were the Norwegian and American flags. We are proud of that.
Earlier, in 2008, President Putin delivered a speech signaling a shift in Russian policy.
It became clear that we had to focus not only on counterterrorism abroad, but also on allied security in our immediate neighborhood. Norwegian forces never fully left the High North in the 1990s. But by 2008, we knew we had to increase our presence there.
Together with the new P-8 surveillance aircraft, this capability strengthens not only Norwegian security, but also American security in the Arctic.
The decision to acquire these aircraft was made in the Norwegian Parliament’s 2016 long-term defense plan.
At the time, I was the committee’s spokesperson. Rune Andersen – who will speak later today – led the work at the Ministry of Defense.
Ambassador Ken Braithwaite knows just how close our cooperation in the North is.
For us, NATO is not just about American reinforcement and deterrence.
It is also about Norway, safeguarding American security in the Arctic every single day.
Our cooperation is essential to:
- Countering emerging threats,
- Strengthening domain awareness, and
- Ensuring that the Arctic remains a region of peace and stability.
Norwegian efforts in the High North are critical to U.S. situational understanding and security.
In today’s era of uncertainty, deterrence and defense have never been more important.
Norway and the U.S. share a deep and lasting commitment to ensuring Arctic stability. We must uphold freedom of navigation and international norms.
The legacy of the Henry Bacon crew – their courage in the face of adversity – is as relevant now as it was 80 years ago.
As we look ahead, let us honor that legacy not only through remembering them, but through action.
By strengthening our collective security, embracing innovation, and standing together to safeguard the Arctic for future generations.
I look forward to today’s program and the important discussions that lie ahead.
Let us all have a meaningful and inspiring Henry Bacon Seminar.
Thank you!
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Opening Remarks – 11th Annual NADIC Conference
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Good morning, distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, and friends!
It is my great honor and pleasure to officially welcome you to the 11th Annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference.
A lot has happened in the defense industry since we held our first conference here in 2013. That was before Russia’s invasion of Crimea.
In Norway, we knew we had to step up our presence in the North when we observed increased military buildup by our large neighbor to the east.
Now, we have been in the Arctic all along – even in the 1990s. But in recent years, we significantly strengthened our presence there. On land, in the air, and at sea.
In 2016, we hosted the largest allied military exercise in Norway since the Cold War: Cold Response. That’s when I received these mittens, which I now keep in my office.
The exercise demonstrated that, by operating together, we could mobilize immense strength. That remains true today.
And that is why this year’s conference is called:
Brave New Alliances – Leveraging Alliance and Partnership Resources for Collective Security.
This idea also applies to defense procurement.
We are increasingly seeing that military investments are the result of well-organized and successful collaboration among allies. That is exactly how Team Norway works here in Washington, D.C. And the community here has not just grown in size since 2013… it has also grown in significance.
Ever since we cofounded NATO in 1949, it has been a priority for us to focus on technological superiority and allied cooperation. Especially as a small country with a large neighbor.
Because Russia outnumbers us, the investments we make must truly deliver when put to use.
If we develop a missile, it must hit its target. If we build a rocket engine, it must be powerful. If we design drones – for underwater or airborne use – they must be effective and easy to operate.
And because Norway has many large regions with few people, we also have great potential for space operations – whether that be rocket launches or satellite communication.
Next week, key players in this field will be present at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. There, we will showcase Norway’s advancements in space technology. We will also strengthen government-to-government relationships.
We have niche expertise in a few critical areas. The U.S. possesses tremendous firepower and the capacity to build new production facilities for defense materials, right here on American soil. In my opinion, that makes this a perfect partnership.
Norway sells some things to the U.S. — because, in certain areas, we are the best. But first and foremost, we are a good customer.
The Norwegian Armed Forces relies heavily on American defense technology. We import about 70% of our defense equipment — half of that from the U.S.
So the United States remains Norway’s most important partner in defense technology. We fly F-35s and operate P-8s, among other key platforms.
But the relationship also benefits the U.S. The U.S. military has increasingly turned to Norwegian technology to enhance its own operational capabilities. A notable example of this collaboration is our LINC program — the Launchpad for Innovative Norwegian Companies.
Since 2019, LINC has helped more than 30 Norwegian startups and scale-ups work toward improving the security challenges shared by both Norway and the U.S.
Let’s go back to today’s conference theme for a moment. Brave New Alliances… It’s about harnessing the collective strength of our partnerships, so that we can face the challenges ahead and safeguard the peace we all cherish.
Today, let’s take a step forward in strengthening the bonds that ensure our shared future.
Thank you for your attention. I look forward to the fruitful discussions ahead.