India, Norway Firm Up Green Strategic Partnership During Modi Visit

India and Norway on Monday elevated their ties to a Green Strategic Partnership as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store held extensive talks focusing on clean energy, climate resilience, maritime cooperation, digital technology and global security issues.

The two leaders also called for resolving the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia through dialogue and diplomacy, stressing that military action alone cannot ensure lasting peace.

“India and Norway both believe in a rules-based order, dialogue, and diplomacy. We are in agreement that no issue can be resolved through military conflict,” Modi said in his televised media statement after the talks.

“Whether it is Ukraine or West Asia, we support and will continue to support every effort toward an early end to the conflicts and the restoration of peace,” he said.

Modi arrived in Oslo from Sweden as part of his four-nation European tour and met Store hours after landing in the Norwegian capital.

Announcing the elevation of ties, Modi said the Green Strategic Partnership would enable the two countries to jointly develop global solutions in sectors ranging from clean energy and climate resilience to the blue economy and green shipping.

“Through this strategic partnership, our companies will develop global solutions across sectors by combining India’s scale, speed and talent with Norway’s technology and capital,” he said, adding that the partnership would benefit the entire world.

The prime minister also described the current phase of India-Europe relations as a “golden era” at a time when several regions across the world continue to face instability and conflict.

The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in sustainability, ocean energy, geology, health, artificial intelligence, cyber and digital technologies, while also agreeing to strengthen collaboration in skill development and talent mobility.

Modi referred to the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association, saying it envisages USD 100 billion investment in India and creation of one million jobs over the next 15 years.

India and Norway also set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030 and explored opportunities in defence cooperation and defence industrial collaboration.

Highlighting Arctic cooperation, Modi thanked Norway for supporting operations at India’s Arctic research station “Himadri” and welcomed the signing of an MoU between ISRO and the Norwegian Space Agency.

He also welcomed Norway joining the India-led Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, saying the two maritime nations would strengthen cooperation in marine economy, maritime security and capacity building.

Modi thanked Norway for supporting India after last year’s Pahalgam terror attack and reiterated the need for reform of global institutions to address emerging international challenges.

A joint statement issued after the talks said the two leaders strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and reaffirmed commitment to coordinated global action against terror groups and terror financing through the UN and FATF mechanisms.

Prime Minister Store also reiterated Norway’s support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council.