India and Norway have differences, but they must unite against countries that “weaponise” diplomacy, trade and technology, said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on Monday (May 18, 2026) after talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the two countries upgraded ties to a “Green Strategic Partnership”.
In statements to the media, both leaders emphasised their discussions on geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, with Mr. Modi contrasting the “instability and uncertainty” brought by the conflicts while India and Europe are entering a “new golden era” in ties.
“Both India and Norway believe in a rules-based order, dialogue, and diplomacy. We are unanimous that no issue can be resolved through military conflict. Whether it is Ukraine or West Asia, we support, and will continue to support, an early end to conflict and every effort toward peace,” Mr. Modi said.
Modi in Norway: Follow important updates on May 18, 2026
He also said that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) signed last year with Norway and three EFTA countries—Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein—as well as the Green Strategic Partnership announced on Monday, would combine India’s scale, speed, and talent with Norway’s technology and capital.
“From the Arctic to outer space, from green shipping to the blue economy, and from energy security to food security, our cooperation is touching new frontiers,” Mr. Modi added, saying that the EFTA deal would aim to create $100 billion in investment and “one million jobs in India”.
Mr. Støre called India “a leading global force in technology, innovation, and renewable energy”, disclosing that he had accompanied a previous Norwegian PM, Jens Stoltenberg, to India in 2001. “A quarter of a century ago, we opened a new chapter of economic cooperation between Norway and India. Today, we move yet another step forward with great substance and great ambition,” he added.
In a possible reference to the Russia-Ukraine war, Mr. Støre acknowledged there were differences between India and Norway, but that it was necessary to work through them. Norway, which has urged India to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the past and to reduce its intake of Russian oil, is also hoping to offer India alternative supplies of oil and gas that Norway is a major exporter of.
“We have to stand up against those who weaponise diplomacy, who weaponise trade, and who weaponise technology. At a time of rising protectionism and more tense geopolitical dynamics, it is more important than ever to stand together for a rule-based order,” Mr. Støre said, possibly referring not only to Russia, but also the U.S. and China on unilateralism and protectionism, as well as Iran for the Strait of Hormuz blockade that has held up global energy trade.
Mr. Støre said that Norway and India “do not always see eye to eye on all issues”, which was common. “We are both respectful democracies who handle those issues in ways that live up to democratic standards,” he added.
As the two leaders completed their statements, the event saw an unusual moment when a Norwegian journalist stood up to protest the fact that the Prime Ministers did not take questions from the media from both countries present. At Mr. Modi’s earlier stop in the Netherlands too, local Dutch media had objected to the lack of a press conference as is customary there. While Mr. Modi did not respond to the question, PM Støre returned to the media room afterwards, and gave interviews to local Norwegian media.
India and Norway also signed a Triangular Development Cooperation to help Global South countries. The two sides also inked MoUs in areas of health, space and digital public infrastructure partnerships, alongside several business agreements after a “Business and Research Summit” held at the iconic Oslo City Hall, where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year.
The two Prime Ministers will join leaders of Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland for the Nordic-India summit on Tuesday, before Mr. Modi travels to Italy, his last stop in the five-nation, six-day visit to the UAE and Europe.
(The reporter is in Norway at the invitation of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cover the Nordic Summit)
Published – May 18, 2026 07:03 pm IST
