Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide strengthens energy and security ties in Washington

Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide wrapped up a two-day visit to Washington, D.C., this week devoted to energy security and transatlantic cooperation.

At the Atlantic Council’s 2025 Global Energy Forum (17–18 June) he told policymakers and industry leaders that “the geopolitics of energy is central to power dynamics,” stressing Norway’s determination to help Ukraine build an independent and resilient energy system.

Beyond the forum, Eide held a series of high-level meetings. On Capitol Hill he met Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to discuss Arctic security, critical minerals and shared priorities ahead of this month’s NATO summit.

Later at the State Department, he sat down with Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what he called “a long and thorough conversation” covering summit preparations, Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. Both leaders underlined the need for allied unity and a just peace for Ukraine.

Reflecting on the trip, Eide said the meetings “reinforced Norway’s role as a reliable energy partner and staunch NATO ally,” adding that close dialogue with U.S. counterparts will be “crucial for a successful summit.”