The Norwegian Perspective in the Mediterranean Sea

Norway’s interests and engagements in the Mediterranean region are strongly influenced by the geopolitical, geo-economic and geo- strategic dimension of Norwegian affairs. Historically, the Vikings - predominantly the Varangians - were active across the region, in particular in Istanbul and Sicily. During the 15th-16th centuries, Norway’s trade relations with the Mediterranean - certain Italian city states especially - expanded. Trade, fisheries and maritime activity have allowed these linkages to continue to expand into the modern era. Today, Oslo’s perspective is focused mainly on security aspects, related to the geopolitical evolutions in the Mediterranean Sea, and to the ongoing evolutions of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the crisis in the Gulf of Aden linked with the Houthi’s threat to maritime security, a dimension where Norway as a maritime country is deeply interested in. Moreover, the security and defence perception from Oslo towards Mediterranean issues is strongly dependent on the Ukraine crisis’ consequences and outcomes, due to the increasing and expanding Russian influence in the Mediterranean, the Sahel and the Red Sea. While not being only limited to the security aspects, but including the economic and financial domain, energy is another key element in the way Norwegian decision-makers are looking at the Mediterranean, particularly after the EU embargo on Russian hydrocarbons supply and the need for many EU countries, including Italy, to find rapid and sustainable alternatives for today’s needs and for the future strategic approaches. Last but not least, Norway is involved in climate related dynamics of the Mediterranean, considering the strong interconnections that this region has with the Arctic in terms of climate change management and sea life protection.