Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has expressed deep concerning the ongoing incident at the Red sea crosssing.
In an official statement Espen said, “We are facing a very serious situation in the Red Sea. These indiscriminate attacks by the Houthi movement are unacceptable, putting crews and innocent parties at mortal risk and inflicting significant economic and material losses.”
With one of the world’s largest merchant fleets, Norway finds itself deeply invested in the security of maritime routes. Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram emphasized the strategic importance of ensuring freedom of navigation at sea, not only for the global economy but also for Norway. As part of Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG) and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), Norway is actively contributing up to ten staff officers to the international effort aimed at securing civilian shipping in the Red Sea.
Norwegian authorities remain in constant communication with the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association and other relevant stakeholders. In an effort to de-escalate the conflict, Norway has opened channels of communication with the Houthi movement.
Foreign Minister Eide stressed the importance of preventing a regional escalation, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. “We have a wide network of contacts in the region and are utilizing diplomatic channels to prevent further spread of the conflict. Consequently, we have chosen not to align with the statement released by the US authorities on January 3rd regarding the situation in the Red Sea.”
As tensions continue to rise, Norway’s diplomatic efforts underscore the significance of finding peaceful resolutions to prevent further destabilization in the region. The global community will be closely watching as nations collaborate to address this critical situation in the Red Sea.
