Norway

Nuclear-weapon endorser

Has not yet joined the TPNW

Summary

Norway has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

National position

Norway supports the retention and potential use of nuclear weapons on its behalf, as indicated by its endorsement of various alliance statements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), of which it is a member.

Norway has consistently voted against an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that welcomes the adoption of the treaty and calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to it “at the earliest possible date”.

Political developments

Six former Norwegian prime ministers, foreign ministers, and defence ministers – Kjell Magne Bondevik, Bjørn Tore Godal, Thorbjørn Jagland, Eldbjørg Løwer, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, and Knut Vollebæk – signed an open letter in 2020 calling on current leaders to “show courage and boldness – and join the treaty”.

They co-authored a separate opinion article for the Aftenposten newspaper in which they reiterated their call for the Norwegian government to join the treaty.

Several Norwegian political parties have indicated their support for Norway’s signature and ratification of the treaty, including the Liberal, Christian Democratic, Center, Socialist Left, Green, and Red parties.

In April 2021, the Labour party offered qualified support, declaring that “it should be a goal for Norway and other NATO countries to sign the nuclear ban treaty” while emphasising the political challenges in doing so.

In 2018, the Norwegian parliament asked the Norwegian government to review the consequences of becoming a state party to the treaty. In its report, the government said that Norway could not join the treaty “without coming into conflict with our membership in NATO”. However, this claim has been widely rejected.

The minister of foreign affairs, Ine Søreide, conceded in 2018 that “there is no legal obligation barring Norway from signing or ratifying the [treaty]”.

Dozens of Norwegian cities, including the capital city, Oslo, have called on the Norwegian government to sign and ratify the treaty.

Dignitaries including the Norwegian prime minister, Erna Solberg, attend a ceremony in Oslo in 2017 at which ICAN received the Nobel peace prize. Photo: ICAN

Public opinion

A public opinion poll conducted by Respons Analyse in 2019 found that 78 per cent of Norwegians believe that their government should sign and ratify the treaty, with 9 per cent opposed and 13 per cent unsure.

Of the 78 per cent of Norwegians who support joining the treaty, 85 per cent believe that Norway should join even if we were to be the first NATO country to do so, with 5 per cent opposed to such a move and 10 per cent unsure.

Thousands of Norwegians march in Oslo in 2017 in support of the treaty and in celebration of the Nobel peace prize awarded to ICAN. Photo: ICAN

Treaty negotiations

Norway did not participate in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption.

In 2016, Norway voted against the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.

In a document sent to NATO members ahead of the vote, the United States “strongly encourage[d]” members, including Norway, to vote against the resolution, “not to merely abstain”. In addition, it said that, if the treaty negotiations do commence, allies and partners should “refrain from joining them”.

Before the negotiations

In March 2013, the Norwegian government hosted in Oslo the first in a series of major intergovernmental conferences on the “humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons”, which helped pave the way to the treaty negotiations in 2017.

The goal of negotiating a new legal instrument to outlaw nuclear weapons was a key aim of the Norwegian centre–left coalition government from 2010 until its defeat at the parliamentary election in September 2013.

Delegates representing 128 states meet in Oslo in 2013 for the first conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. Photo: ICAN

ICAN campaigners welcome delegates to the first conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, hosted by Norway in Oslo in 2013. Photo: ICAN

Nuclear-weapon endorser

Has not yet joined the TPNW

[HIGHLIGHTS]

Summary

Norway has not yet signed or ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

National position

Political developments

They co-authored a separate opinion article for the Aftenposten newspaper in which they reiterated their call for the Norwegian government to join the treaty.

The minister of foreign affairs, Ine Søreide, conceded in 2018 that “there is no legal obligation barring Norway from signing or ratifying the [treaty]”.

Dozens of Norwegian cities, including the capital city, Oslo, have called on the Norwegian government to sign and ratify the treaty.

Dignitaries including the Norwegian prime minister, Erna Solberg, attend a ceremony in Oslo in 2017 at which ICAN received the Nobel peace prize. Photo: ICAN

Public opinion

Thousands of Norwegians march in Oslo in 2017 in support of the treaty and in celebration of the Nobel peace prize awarded to ICAN. Photo: ICAN

Treaty negotiations

Norway did not participate in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and thus did not vote on its adoption.

Before the negotiations

Delegates representing 128 states meet in Oslo in 2013 for the first conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. Photo: ICAN

ICAN campaigners welcome delegates to the first conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, hosted by Norway in Oslo in 2013. Photo: ICAN

[PARTNERS]

Norway

Nuclear-weapon endorser

Has not yet joined the TPNW

Summary

National position

Political developments

Public opinion

Treaty negotiations

Before the negotiations

Nuclear-weapon endorser

Has not yet joined the TPNW

Summary

National position

Political developments

Public opinion

Treaty negotiations

Before the negotiations

Bellona

Centre Youth

Changemaker

Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations

European Youth of Norway

Fredsinitiativet

Green Youth

ICAN Norway

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (Norway)

Juvente

Nature and Youth (Young Friends of the Earth Norway)

No to Nuclear Weapons

Norwegian Civil Service Union

Norwegian Farmer’s Union

Norwegian Humanist Association

Norwegian Labour Youth

Norwegian Peace Association

Norwegian Peace Council

Norwegian People’s Aid

Norwegian Pugwash Committee

Norwegian Young Christian Democrats

PRESS (Youth Organisation of Save the Children Norway)

Red Youth

Spire

Storebrand

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Norway

World Student Christian Federation Norway

Young Liberals of Norway

Fredsbevegelsen på Nesodden

Norges Fredsråd - Norwegian Peace Council

Support for TPNW Get involved with ICAN in Norway›

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Support for TPNW Get involved with ICAN in Norway›

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Bellona

Centre Youth

Changemaker

Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations

European Youth of Norway

Fredsinitiativet

Green Youth

ICAN Norway

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (Norway)

Juvente

Nature and Youth (Young Friends of the Earth Norway)