Algeria–Norway relations

Algeria–Norway relations
Map indicating locations of Algeria and Norway

Algeria
Norway

Algeria–Norway relations are the bilateral relations between Algeria and Norway. Algeria has an embassy in Oslo[1] and Norway has an embassy in Algiers.[2]

Embassy of Algeria in Oslo

As a seafaring nation in pre-modernity, Norwegian sailors regularly came across ships from the Barbary States.[3]

Relations between Algeria and Norway were not substantial, though an inquiry was made in 1979 whether Norway should open an embassy there.[4] Instead, Norway later established an embassy in Tunisia to facilitate the Oslo Process.[5]

Like in Angola and Nigeria, Algeria's petroleum sector attracted investments from the Norwegian state-owned petroleum company Statoil. From 2003 Statoil was a co-owner of the oil fields at In Amenas and In Salah.[3] Investing billions of Norwegian kroner in Algeria, Statoil lobbied to move the Tunis embassy to Algiers. The move was carried through in 2007.[5][4][6] Norway's ambassador to Algeria now has a side accreditation to Tunisia.[7]

In the 2000s, Algeria wanted to buy products from the Norwegian military industry. Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused a permit to sell to Algeria on three occasions, in 2004, 2007 and 2008, before accepting in 2011. Algeria subsequently purchased weapons control systems developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.[8] In 2012, the Algerian fregate La Soumman embarked on an official visit to Oslo. In 2013, the In Amenas hostage crisis saw the killing of 5 Norwegian citizens, who were Statoil employees. Norway offered to send special forces to Algeria to root out the attackers, but Algeria declined.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Acceuil". www.algerianembassy.no. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  2. ^ "Algerie". Norgesportalen (in French). Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  3. ^ a b c "Algerie - Algerie og Norge". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Støre: Norge skal satse sterkt i Algerie". Fædrelandsvennen (in Norwegian). 21 October 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Flytter norsk ambassade fra Tunisia til Algerie". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Algeries_utenrikspolitikk - Norge". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  7. ^ Norway.no (in Norwegian)
  8. ^ Bleikelia, Mats; Johansen, Per Anders (31 January 2013). "Norge solgte militært utstyr til Algerie". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 25 November 2021.