OSLO – When journalist Helle Lyng challenged an Indian diplomat last week, “Why should Norway trust India?”, history had already given an answer — from a Norwegian who spent 20 years ruling part of South India.

Peter Anker (1744–1832) from Halden served as Danish-Norwegian Governor-General of Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu from 1786 to 1808. His territory also covered maps of Northern Sri Lanka. Instead of exploiting the land, Anker filled hundreds of watercolour paintings documenting Indian daily life — now preserved at the University of Oslo’s Cultural History Museum.

After returning home, Anker attended the Eidsvoll Assembly in 1814, helping birth Norway’s Constitution and its cherished press freedom.

The irony? Anker trusted India enough to live there for two decades and bring its art to Norway. He never asked “why trust you?” — he simply acted on that trust.

Two Centuries of Trust: A Forgotten Norwegian Governor Had Already Answered the Question Helle Lyng Asked India in 2026

When Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng confronted Indian diplomat Sibi George in Oslo with the sharp question, “Why should we trust India?”, she may not have known that the answer had already been written — not in diplomatic briefings, but in watercolour paintings, colonial records, and the very foundation of Norway’s own democracy.

The tense exchange took place on May 19, 2026, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway. Lyng, a reporter for Dagsavisen, pressed the Indian ambassador on human rights and press freedom, citing India’s rank of 157th in the World Press Freedom Index (Norway ranks 1st). George responded by defending India’s constitutional traditions and dismissing what he called “ignorant NGO reports.”

But beneath the diplomatic sparring lies a deeper historical irony: a Norwegian once governed a part of South India for two decades, and that same Norwegian helped lay the groundwork for Norway’s own constitution at Eidsvoll. His name was Peter Anker — and his life offers a far richer answer to Lyng’s question than any press briefing could.

Peter Anker: The Norwegian Who Trusted India Before It Was Fashionable

Born in Fredrikshald (now Halden) in 1744, Peter Anker came from one of Norway’s most prominent families. After serving as a diplomat in London and Hull, he was appointed Governor-General of Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) in Tamil Nadu, South India from 1786 to 1808. Tranquebar was a Danish-Norwegian colony, and Anker ruled it for over 20 years.

But Anker was no ordinary colonial administrator. He was an artist, cartographer, and ethnographer. During his two decades in Tamil Nadu, he produced hundreds of detailed watercolour paintings depicting local life: temple processions, weaving villages, merchants, musicians, and everyday street scenes. These works are now preserved at the University of Oslo’s Cultural History Museum — a living testament to how deeply one Norwegian engaged with Indian civilisation.

Crucially, Anker’s reach extended beyond Tamil Nadu. His maps and sketches also cover Northern Sri Lanka, especially the strategic port of Trincomalee — the very region that later became a flashpoint in colonial geopolitics. The Danes were among the first Europeans to attempt a settlement there. Anker’s cartographic records show a meticulous, respectful curiosity about the land and its people.

Why does this matter for “trust”?
Anker did not have to paint India. He did not have to bring those paintings back to Norway. He could have ruled, extracted revenue, and left. Instead, he spent two decades documenting, admiring, and preserving the culture he governed. That is an act of profound trust — a belief that this land and its people were worthy of memory and art.

From Tranquebar to Eidsvoll: A Norwegian Founding Father

Here is where the story becomes remarkable for any Norwegian journalist. After returning from India, Peter Anker attended the Eidsvoll Assembly on February 16, 1814 — the precursor to Norway’s constitutional convention. That assembly later produced the Constitution of Norway, signed on May 17 at Eidsvoll Manor, which enshrined popular sovereignty, separation of powers, and press freedom.

Peter Anker was present at the very birth of modern Norwegian democracy. He did not just rule in India; he helped shape the liberal, rule-of-law values that Norway prides itself on today — the same values Lyng cited when questioning India.

The Norwegian who helped found your parliament also governed Indian territory with integrity. He trusted India enough to spend 20 years there and bring its art home. Yet two centuries later, a Norwegian journalist asks an Indian diplomat, “Why should we trust you?”

The Deep Analysis: What Anker’s Example Really Means

1. Trust is built on lived engagement, not index scores

Lyng pointed to India’s press freedom ranking. But trust between civilisations has never been measured by NGO scorecards. Anker’s paintings are a more honest metric: he trusted India because he lived there, learned from it, and honoured it with his brush.

2. Norway’s own history contradicts its current question

If Norway asks “why trust India,” it must also ask why a Norwegian governor spent 20 years in Tamil Nadu and Northern Sri Lanka without ever claiming those societies were unworthy of trust. Anker’s career proves that Norway’s ancestors saw India as a partner, not a problem.

3. The Eidsvoll spirit is alive in India’s Constitution

India’s founding fathers studied European liberal constitutions, including Norway’s 1814 model. When India guarantees freedom of speech, assembly, and judicial review, it is upholding the same Eidsvoll principles. That is not a coincidence — it is a shared heritage.

4. Anker trusted India in the 1790s; the question in 2026 is the anomaly

Peter Anker died in 1832. He never asked “why trust India.” He simply acted on that trust every day for two decades. The fact that a Norwegian journalist in 2026 feels compelled to ask the opposite question reveals not India’s failure, but a rupture in Norway’s own historical memory.

Beyond the Headlines: Modern Trust in Action

While the press conference drew headlines, quieter indicators of trust between India and Norway are booming:

· Trade & Investment: Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has nearly $28 billion invested in Indian equities.
· Green Partnership: The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the EFTA states (including Norway) came into force in October 2025 after 16 years of negotiation.
· Highest Honour: During Modi’s 2026 visit, King Harald V awarded him the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit — Norway’s highest civilian honour for a foreign head of government.

These are not gestures made to a nation one distrusts. They are the practical architecture of a relationship that, quietly, has never stopped trusting India.

The Painting That Answers Back

Somewhere in Oslo, at the University’s Cultural History Museum, Peter Anker’s watercolours of Tamil Nadu are stored in climate-controlled darkness. They show Indian weavers, priests, farmers, and children — all painted with care by a Norwegian who saw dignity where others saw colony.

Helle Lyng asked, “Why should we trust India?” Peter Anker answered, “Because I already did. For twenty years. And I brought your proof home.”

That answer has been in Oslo all along. Perhaps it is time for Norwegian journalists to visit their own museums before asking such questions again.

(Nadarajah Sethurupan)

OSLO — Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and the five Nordic prime ministers gathered at Oslo’s City Hall on Tuesday to elevate their partnership to a “Trusted Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership” — a sweeping framework aimed at accelerating clean energy, digital innovation, and sustainable growth.

The 3rd India-Nordic Summit marked Modi’s first visit to Norway by an Indian prime minister in 43 years, following Indira Gandhi’s trip in 1983. The leaders underscored their shared democratic values while addressing global instability, climate change, and urgent multilateral reform.

The centrepiece of the summit was a decision to upgrade ties between India and the five Nordic nations — Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden — into a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership. This framework aims to combine India’s scale, speed, and talent with Nordic technology and capital to develop global solutions in clean energy, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

Prime Minister Modi emphasised the transformative potential of the partnership: “With this green technology partnership, we will ensure a better future for the entire world… This will combine innovation with scale and talent, while advancing our shared commitment towards sustainability, trusted technologies and a better future for humanity.”

The partnership will focus on climate action, clean energy transition, circular economy initiatives, critical minerals, green hydrogen, offshore wind, carbon capture, blue economy, and green shipping.

Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir commended Modi’s leadership, framing climate action as an opportunity rather than a burden: “Having the leader of the biggest democracy address things like climate change and seeing it as something we need to address for progress, not something that holds us back, is such an important message coming from a leader at this scale today… I think a lot of people are afraid by what we need to do, and here we are harnessing hope, and this is the message that needs to be heard.”

Prime Minister Modi stressed a “clear and united stand on terrorism: no compromise, no double standards,” while calling for peaceful resolutions to conflicts. “Whether it is Ukraine or West Asia, we will continue to support the earliest resolution of conflicts and efforts towards peace.”

The joint statement further condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 (which killed 26 people, most of them tourists) and the attack near Delhi’s Red Fort in November 2025, reflecting a unified stance against terrorism in all its forms.

Economic cooperation took centre stage, with Modi highlighting that Nordic investment in India had increased by nearly 200 per cent over the past decade, creating jobs and strengthening growth on both sides.

He pointed to two major trade frameworks: the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (in effect since October 2025) involving Norway and Iceland, and the India-EU Free Trade Agreement covering Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.

“With these ambitious trade agreements, we are ushering in a new golden era in relations between India and the Nordic countries,” Modi declared.

India currently conducts a combined trade of 19 billion US dollars with the five Nordic countries, a figure leaders see as having significant room for growth. Additionally, India and Norway set a target to double the value of current bilateral trade by 2030, with a USD 100 billion investment commitment under the TEPA framework expected to create one million jobs in India.

In a lighter moment that captured the spirit of the summit, Modi drew a linguistic link between Hindi and Nordic languages: “In many Nordic languages, the word ‘sambandh’ means connection, relations, and bond. In Hindi too, ‘sambandh’ carries the same meaning. This is not just a similarity of words; it reflects the closeness of our thoughts.”

The Nordic leaders reiterated their support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council and welcomed India’s application to the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Prime Minister Modi pressed for urgent institutional reforms: “We agree that reform of multilateral institutions is both necessary and urgent.”

Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo noted that the Nordics share many objectives with India — strengthening the rules-based international order and responding to climate change with sustained multilateral action — and announced that Finland will host the next India-Nordic Summit.

Arctic and polar research featured prominently on the agenda. The leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in polar research, with the Nordic countries welcoming India’s continued engagement as an observer in the Arctic Council and supporting enhanced collaboration on climate and environmental research.

Prime Minister Modi further invited Norway to participate in Bharat Innovates 2026 in France and proposed creating a bilateral Start-up Innovation Hub and Green Innovation Hackathon.

With concrete agreements on green technology, trade targets of 100 billion US dollars in investment, and strengthened cooperation on everything from AI governance to maritime security, the Oslo summit marks a defining moment in India-Nordic relations.

As Iceland’s Frostadóttir remarked, referencing the shared word ‘sambandh’: “I love that word ‘Sambandh’… people will be very devoted to this language, Prime Minister Modi, this is what people need, they need more ‘Sambandh’ today.”

From the fjords of Norway to the shores of India, the message from Oslo was clear: the new golden era has begun.

OSLO — Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre joined his Nordic counterparts at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel on Tuesday for the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, where discussions centered on elevating ties through a newly forged “Green Strategic Partnership” and a series of key agreements on trade, technology, and climate.

The summit, which began with the arrival of the leaders shortly before 09:30, saw Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi convene with the prime ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden to explore a strategic blueprint that blends India’s scale with Nordic innovation. The meeting builds on previous summits held in 2018 and 2022, aiming to impart a new strategic dimension to their relationship.

The gathering followed a landmark day on Monday, where India and Norway announced 12 bilateral agreements. Among the most significant outcomes was the formal upgrading of ties to a “Green Strategic Partnership,” committing both nations to deeper cooperation in clean energy, the blue economy, and green shipping. The partnership sets a target of $100 billion in investments and the creation of one million jobs in India over 15 years.

The agreements signed at the Oslo summit span from traditional sectors like shipbuilding to cutting-edge technology. A notable deal saw India’s Advait Energy sign an MoU with Norway’s TECO to bring hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing to India, a project projected to create at least 200 jobs.

The Nordic leaders and Prime Minister Modi were welcomed at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel—a towering 37-story landmark in the city center known for its extensive conference spaces. The summit is expected to last until the early afternoon, concluding a visit that Norway’s government has hailed as a cornerstone for strengthening cooperation on global security challenges.

OSLO – India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, held a productive evening meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in the Norwegian capital on Monday, focusing on critical global flashpoints and bilateral cooperation.

The two top diplomats exchanged views on the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, as well as the evolving security dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region. The talks come amid a broader strategic push by both nations to elevate their partnership under the recently launched “Green Strategic Partnership.”

Minister Jaishankar is in Oslo as part of a high-level Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on the first state visit by an Indian premier to Norway in over four decades. The evening dialogue between Jaishankar and Eide served to reinforce the growing convergence between New Delhi and Oslo on rules-based global governance.

Both ministers underscored that while their approaches to certain conflicts may differ, diplomacy and dialogue remain the only sustainable paths to peace. Norway has been a strong backer of Ukraine, while India continues to engage with Moscow. However, sources indicate that Norway values India’s ability to communicate with all parties, and both sides agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation in West Asia.

A key outcome of the broader bilateral discussions — which now include Norway’s formal accession to the India-led Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) — is the shared commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. Ministers Jaishankar and Eide reviewed progress on:

· Maritime security cooperation in critical sea lanes.
· Sustainable marine economy including green shipping and port modernisation.
· Capacity building for smaller Indo-Pacific nations.

Beyond geopolitics, the two ministers also touched upon the economic and environmental pillars of the bilateral relationship. The India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which entered force in October 2025, aims to mobilise $100 billion in investments into India over 15 years, creating up to one million jobs.

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund already holds close to $30 billion in Indian markets, and both sides expressed confidence in scaling up cooperation in green hydrogen, offshore wind, and carbon capture.

The Jaishankar-Eide meeting signals that India and Norway are moving beyond traditional diplomacy towards a resilient, multi-domain partnership. As Prime Minister Modi prepares to attend the India-Nordic Summit, all eyes will be on how this strategic alignment translates into concrete action on global security, climate, and trade.

For Norway, deepening ties with the world’s most populous nation and fifth-largest economy is not just an opportunity — it is a strategic imperative in a fragmenting world order.

OSLO, May 19 – In a poignant display of historical reverence and modern partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Akershus Castle in Oslo on Monday, accompanied by his Norwegian counterpart, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The visit, occurring on the first full day of PM Modi’s landmark trip to Norway, combined the solemnity of royal diplomacy with the practical forging of deeper strategic and economic ties between the two maritime nations.

The castle visit marked a high point of the Indian prime minister’s itinerary, seamlessly blending Norway’s rich medieval history with a shared vision for its future. The tour was a testament to the elevated “Green Strategic Partnership,” as the two leaders personally guided each other through the fortress that has stood sentinel over Oslo for over seven centuries.

Choosing Akershus Castle as a venue for the joint visit was a deeply symbolic gesture. Construction on the fortress began in the late 1290s under King Haakon V, built to protect the capital and serve as a royal residence. The strategic importance of the castle was so paramount that a medieval maxim held: “Whoever ruled the Akershus fortress ruled Norway!”

Centuries later, the castle still functions as the temporary office of the Prime Minister of Norway, making it a fitting backdrop for PM Modi’s visit. Together, the two leaders walked the grounds of the fortress, which has withstood sieges, served as a royal home, and even operated as a 19th-century prison. The tour was an affirmation of the shared principles of security and rule of law that continue to underpin the India-Norway relationship.

Prior to the castle tour, Prime Minister Modi was granted an audience with King Harald V of Norway at the Royal Palace in Oslo. According to an official release by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the people of India and appreciated Norway’s breathtaking natural beauty.

The two leaders underscored that the India-Norway partnership continues to deepen, rooted in shared values such as democracy, the rule of law, and people-centric governance. The discussion also touched upon the impressive strides made by Indian and Norwegian companies across diverse sectors, particularly in new technologies. The audience was followed by a luncheon hosted by King Harald V in honour of Prime Minister Modi, who thanked the monarch for his gracious hospitality.

In recognition of his services in strengthening bilateral ties, King Harald V conferred upon PM Modi the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Norway’s highest honour under the order. The Grand Cross, the highest grade of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, is awarded in recognition of outstanding service and contribution towards strengthening ties with Norway and the international community.

The castle tour and royal audience build on a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at elevating India-Norway relations to a strategic level. The two nations have officially launched the “Green Strategic Partnership,” which is expected to drive cooperation in sectors such as renewable energy, green hydrogen, and the blue economy. This aligns perfectly with PM Modi’s broader diplomatic push during his five-nation tour, of which Norway is the fourth leg.

As Prime Minister Modi prepares to depart for the fifth and final leg of his tour in Italy, the symbolism of the Akershus Castle visit will linger. In a world grappling with complex geopolitical challenges, the shared walk through a fortress that has stood the test of time serves as a powerful metaphor for the robust, enduring, and principled partnership between New Delhi and Oslo.

OSLO – In a landmark moment for bilateral relations, Norway and India have signed a series of agreements today that will elevate their partnership to new heights. The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – the first Indian head of government to visit Norway since Indira Gandhi in 1983 – marks the beginning of an era of deeper collaboration between two proud democracies.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre welcomed his Indian counterpart at Gardermoen on Monday morning, before the two leaders proceeded to Oslo for official meetings.

A Growing Partnership Built on Shared Values

At a joint press conference, Prime Minister Støre highlighted the natural alignment between the two nations.

“This reflects the growing partnership between India and Norway. We may differ in geography, culture, size, and history, but we have much to gain by working more closely together,” Støre said.

The Norwegian Prime Minister emphasized shared democratic values while acknowledging that the two countries bring complementary strengths to the table. Trade between Norway and India has already doubled over the past decade, and new agreements signed today promise to accelerate this growth even further.

Doubling Down on Trade and Innovation

The newly signed cooperation agreement spans multiple sectors, with both leaders expressing enthusiasm for what lies ahead.

“This means new, major opportunities for investments, innovation, and job creation in areas such as green technology, renewable energy, maritime industries, and seafood,” Støre announced.

Prime Minister Modi, speaking at the same podium, thanked Norway for facilitating Indian research presence in the Arctic and outlined a vision for expanded cooperation in digital health, artificial intelligence, research, health technology, and digital development.

“The cooperation between Indian and Norwegian business will increase significantly in the years ahead,” said Ole Erik Almlid, head of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO). “The trade agreement between India and the EFTA countries last year opens the door for a completely new level of collaboration between Indian and Norwegian companies. This will yield substantial benefits going forward.”

Digital Development and Green Transition

Development Minister Åsmund Aukrust announced a letter of intent for digital development cooperation with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

“Through this agreement, Norway and India will work together to develop and share open digital solutions that other countries can also adopt,” Aukrust said.

India, the world’s most populous nation and fifth-largest economy, is growing rapidly. For Norwegian businesses, this represents an unprecedented opportunity. Current Norwegian exports to India stand at around 4–5 billion kroner, but industry leaders see this as just the beginning.

“India is going to be an economic superpower, and it’s vital that we have an agreement with them,” Almlid emphasized.

A Democratic Counterweight in a Shifting World Order

In a global landscape marked by trade wars, protectionism, and rising authoritarianism, India stands out as a stable, democratic partner. While other powers retreat behind tariffs and aggressive posturing, India offers predictability and shared commitment to a rules-based international order.

Prime Minister Modi reinforced this during his remarks:

“India and Norway believe in a rules-based order. We both agree that solutions to problems cannot be found through military conflict – whether in Ukraine or West Asia.”

The Nordic-India Summit, which continues tomorrow at Oslo City Hall with leaders from all Nordic countries, underscores the region’s recognition of India’s growing global importance.

Looking Ahead

From the red carpet at Gardermoen to audiences at the Royal Palace and meetings with business leaders, Prime Minister Modi’s visit has already delivered concrete results. The agreements signed today – covering green strategic partnership, space research, digital solutions, and expanded trade – lay the foundation for a relationship that will benefit both nations for decades to come.

As Prime Minister Støre put it: “We may be different, but we have so much to gain by working together.”

With India’s ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2070 and Norway’s world-leading expertise in renewable energy, carbon capture, and maritime technology, the partnership is not just promising – it is essential.

OSLO — In a solemn ceremony at the Royal Palace on Monday evening, King Harald V conferred the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit upon Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking only the latest highlight of a historic two-day state visit to Norway.

The Grand Cross is the highest grade of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, an honour established by King Olav V in 1985 and awarded in recognition of outstanding service in the interests of Norway and the international community. The insignia, featuring the Cross of St. Olav with crowns at each corner and the crowned monogram of King Olav V at its centre, was presented with the Order’s full ceremonial protocol.

Modi becomes the first Indian prime minister to receive the distinction, which is now the 32nd international honour bestowed upon him by a foreign nation.

Following the investiture, the Prime Minister issued a statement expressing profound gratitude.

“Honoured to receive the Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit in Oslo,” Modi said. “This honour is dedicated to the people of India and is a tribute to the enduring friendship between India and Norway. It reflects our shared commitment to global progress.”

The award ceremony came just hours after Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre jointly announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a “Green Strategic Partnership,” alongside a Norwegian commitment to invest $100 billion in India across trade, clean energy, and technology sectors.

Earlier in the day, addressing a joint press conference, Modi had thanked Norway for its solidarity following last year’s Pahalgam terror attack — an attack that had forced the postponement of his originally scheduled visit. “Norway demonstrated the true spirit of friendship by standing firmly alongside India in the fight against terrorism,” he told reporters.

A 43-Year Gap Filled

Modi’s arrival in Oslo on Monday morning marked the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Norway in 43 years, since Indira Gandhi’s trip in 1983. The two-day itinerary includes bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Støre, a meeting with Queen Sonja, and participation in the third India-Nordic Summit on Tuesday, where leaders from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden will join their Norwegian and Indian counterparts.

The honour comes just one day after Modi received Sweden’s highest recognition for a foreign head of government — the Royal Order of the Polar Star, Commander Grand Cross — during a separate stop in Stockholm.

Tomorrow, on Norway’s Constitution Day, Modi has announced he will extend his congratulations to the Norwegian people during the summit proceedings.

OSLO — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Oslo on Monday morning for the first visit by an Indian leader to Norway in more than four decades, capping the day with a joint press conference alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the announcement of a new Green Strategic Partnership.

Speaking at the government guest house in central Oslo, both leaders hailed the upgraded ties as a milestone in bilateral relations, pledging deeper cooperation on renewable energy, global security, and trade.

“This visit underlines the importance of cooperation in times of global instability,” Støre said. “Norway and India are two maritime democracies that share fundamental values, and today we are turning shared ambitions into concrete action.”

Modi, who last visited the Nordic region in 2022 but had not previously held a standalone bilateral visit in Norway, thanked Støre for the invitation and called the partnership “a bridge between the Arctic and the Indian Ocean.”

$100 billion investment commitment

The centrepiece of Monday’s announcements was a Norwegian commitment to invest $100 billion in India over the coming years, focusing on offshore wind, green hydrogen, and the blue economy. The figure includes both sovereign and private capital channelled through Norway’s $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund as well as dedicated climate investment vehicles.

“India is not only a market — it is a solution to global climate challenges,” Støre said. “Norwegian capital and technology can help accelerate India’s green transition, while Indian scale and innovation can help bring down costs for the entire world.”

The two leaders officially elevated bilateral ties to a Green Strategic Partnership, a framework that already exists between Norway and several European allies. Under the new arrangement, both countries will establish annual ministerial-level dialogues on energy, ocean management, and climate adaptation.

Security, counter-terrorism, and space cooperation

Beyond green issues, Modi and Støre addressed several geopolitical files. Modi thanked Norway for its “steadfast solidarity” following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, last year that killed seven tourists, including two European nationals.

“There can be no justification for terrorism in any form,” Modi said. “India and Norway agree that the fight against terror must be comprehensive and uncompromising.”

Both prime ministers also reiterated their support for diplomatic solutions to ongoing conflicts. “Military conflicts cannot be resolved without dialogue and diplomacy,” Støre told reporters. “That principle guides our approach to Ukraine and the Middle East.”

Two separate memorandums of understanding were signed after the press conference:

· A space cooperation agreement between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Norwegian Space Agency, focusing on satellite-based climate monitoring and Arctic-Indian Ocean data sharing.
· A digital development pact under which India will offer its open-source public infrastructure platforms — including digital identity and payment systems — to developing nations, with technical support from Norway.

A historic gap filled

Monday’s visit ends a 43-year gap in high-level travel between New Delhi and Oslo. The last Indian prime minister to visit Norway was Indira Gandhi in 1983. Since then, trade has grown from negligible levels to nearly $30 billion in Norwegian investment in Indian equities, according to official data cited by Støre’s office.

Modi is scheduled to remain in Oslo through Tuesday, where he will join Støre and other Nordic heads of government for the third India-Nordic Summit. Leaders from Denmark, Iceland, Finland, and Sweden will also attend.

“This is not just about India and Norway,” Modi said as he closed the press conference. “It is about how the Global South and the Nordic region can work together for a stable, green, and prosperous future.”

OSLO, May 16 – Norway is preparing to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this Monday for a historic two-day visit that promises to propel the Indo-Norwegian partnership into a new era. The first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Norway in 43 years, taking place on May 18–19, comes at a time when bilateral trade has more than doubled in a decade and a landmark free trade agreement is already delivering tangible results.

In a powerful symbolic gesture, Støre will personally welcome Modi at Gardermoen Airport, departing from standard protocol and setting the tone for what the Norwegian government has described as a “strong, vibrant, and strategically important relationship.”

The visit takes place just over six months after the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) — covering Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland — entered into force on October 1, 2025. That agreement has already reshaped market access, with Norwegian salmon now enjoying zero-tariff entry into the Indian market, and it provides the foundation for an ambitious new phase of economic cooperation.

“India, Norway and the EFTA countries agreed a free trade agreement in 2024 that entered into force last year. This was an important breakthrough for cooperation, and creates significant opportunities for both Norwegian and Indian business and industry,” .

Economic cooperation will take centre stage on Monday when the Norway-India Business and Research Summit convenes at Oslo City Hall. Trade and Industry Minister Cecilie Myrseth will lead the high-level summit, which brings together corporate leaders from both nations to deepen collaboration in trade, investment, clean energy, maritime industries and emerging technologies.

Crown Prince Haakon will join Prime Ministers Modi and Støre at a flagship business roundtable where approximately 30 commercial Memoranda of Understanding are expected to be signed, underscoring the rapid conversion of political goodwill into concrete business outcomes.

The India-Norway economic corridor has already reached substantial scale. India’s bilateral trade in goods and services with the Nordic countries now stands at US$ 19 billion. More than 700 Nordic companies operate in India, while around 150 Indian companies have established a presence in the Nordic region — figures that both sides expect to rise significantly as the TEPA framework matures.

On Tuesday, the focus will widen to the entire Nordic region as Oslo hosts the 3rd India-Nordic Summit. Modi will be joined by Prime Minister Støre, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Denmark), Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (Finland), Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir (Iceland) and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Sweden) for wide-ranging discussions on deepening cooperation across multiple strategic fronts.

According to sources the summit agenda will cover:

· Green transition and renewable energy, including green hydrogen, smart grids and carbon capture

· Technology and innovation: digitalisation, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

· Blue economy and maritime cooperation

· Arctic and polar research

· Defence and space collaboration

· Global governance reforms

A key deliverable expected from the visit is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on health and digital public goods, with a particular focus on trilateral cooperation for developing countries. The agreement is designed to combine India’s globally recognised expertise in digital public infrastructure — including its Aadhaar identity and UPI payment systems — with Norway’s strengths in health technology and development cooperation, creating scalable solutions for nations in the Global South.

A joint India-Norway statement is also expected to be issued, emphasising shared commitments on climate change, the green energy transition, the blue economy, scientific collaboration in the Arctic, and counter-terrorism cooperation.

The visit caps an extraordinary year of diplomatic intensity. In the past twelve months alone, six ministerial visits have taken place — three from each side — spanning petroleum, shipping, finance, fisheries, digitalisation and health. Prime Minister Modi will also call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja in a traditional audience that further symbolises the warmth of bilateral ties.

As Oslo rolls out the red carpet for the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister in more than four decades, the expected outcomes are clear: a strengthened India-Norway partnership built on shared democratic values, open markets, and a mutual determination to tackle the defining challenges of the age — from climate change to digital transformation.

The two-day programme will not only elevate bilateral ties but also inject fresh strategic energy into India’s broader relationship with the Nordic region, creating a blueprint for technology-driven, sustainable economic cooperation that stands as a model for Europe-India partnerships in the years ahead.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a six-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy starting May 15 to boost India’s bilateral ties and cooperation in energy, defence, economy and trade amid the West Asia crisis.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a six-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy starting May 15 to boost India’s bilateral ties and cooperation in energy, defence, economy and trade amid the West Asia crisis.

Addressing a special media briefing here on Wednesday evening, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Sibi George said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a five‑nation tour from 15–20 May, covering the UAE and four European countries — the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy.”

He stated that in the UAE on 15 May, PM Modi will meet President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss bilateral ties, energy cooperation and regional issues.

“From May 15–17, PM Modi will be in the Netherlands — his second visit after 2017 — at a crucial moment in bilateral relations. This also includes the third India‑Nordic Summit, focusing on trade, investment, green technology, and innovation. The visit to the four European countries comes in the backdrop of the India-EU FTA that we finalised earlier this year,” he remarked.

Following the Dutch leg, PM Modi will pivot to Scandinavia, visiting Sweden and Norway, nations viewed by New Delhi as “key to New Delhi’s transition to green and emerging technologies.”

A major centrepiece of the tour is the Prime Minister’s arrival in Norway for the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on May 18.

This platform, which was originally “postponed last year in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack,” serves as a diplomatic recovery after the 2025 trip was “cancelled due to Operation Sindoor.”

Reinvigorating this partnership, the gathering will concentrate on “trade, investment, green technology, and innovation.”

The Nordic engagement is further bolstered by Norway’s existing free trade agreement with India, which “came into effect in October 2025,” providing a robust foundation for new pacts in “health and digital public infrastructure.”

PM Modi will wrap up his five-nation visit with a visit to Italy between May 19 and 20, further expanding India’s diplomatic reach across both Europe and the Middle East.

In this final leg, the two nations look to “deepen engagements in defence and strategic sectors” following the Italian Defence Minister’s recent visit to New Delhi.

Italy is also aggressively positioning its ports as a vital “gateway to Europe” within the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Uzbekistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, held talks with Norway’s newly appointed ambassador, Helene Sand Andresen, focusing on efforts to sustain dialogue on Afghanistan’s future, officials said.

According to Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry, the meeting centred on the current state of bilateral cooperation related to Afghanistan and underscored a shared commitment to maintaining regular engagement on the Afghan settlement process.

Andresen praised Uzbekistan’s role in promoting a coordinated regional approach to Afghanistan, highlighting Tashkent’s efforts to build consensus among neighbouring countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on Afghanistan’s economic recovery and discussed prospects for integrating the country into broader regional connectivity initiatives.