Trump’s Unexpected Call to Norwegian Minister: Secrets and Potential Consequences
Last month, in a surprising and unanticipated move, U.S.
President Donald Trump made a phone call to Norway’s Minister of Finance, Jens Stoltenberg.
The main topics discussed included trade policies, tariffs, and Trump’s ambitious aspiration to earn the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
Details of this incident first emerged in the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv at the end of last month, later confirmed by an official representative of the Norwegian government, highlighting the significance of this conversation for international relations.
Reports indicate that this was not the first time Trump broached the topic of the Nobel Prize in a conversation with Stoltenberg.
In an interview with POLITICO, former NATO Secretary General and current Norwegian diplomat Jens Stoltenberg shared that the discussion also covered economic cooperation, tariffs, and preparations for Trump’s upcoming talk with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
He emphasized that the details of the discussion remain confidential.
The upcoming meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for this Friday in Alaska, could be a decisive moment for Trump’s prospects of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
Any breakthrough or mistake in resolving the Ukraine conflict might influence his reputation as a peacemaker.
Trump’s stance on who is responsible for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been oscillating; however, recently, he has begun to express sharper criticism of Putin.
Each year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee selects laureates from hundreds of nominees, with the announcement made every October in Oslo, drawing international attention.
Several countries, including Israel, Pakistan, and Cambodia, have already nominated Trump, considering his mediating role in peace agreements and ceasefires following his return to the presidency in January.
Trump also claims credit for reducing tensions between India and Pakistan after clashes earlier this year and recently hosted Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Washington to discuss ending their long-lasting conflict.
If awarded, he would be the fifth U.S.
president to receive this honor, joining Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and his political rival Barack Obama.
In a February meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump lamented that he believed he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize but probably would never receive it, stating, “It’s a shame.
I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.” On July 31, White House press secretary Caroline Levitt stated during a briefing that it has long been time for Trump to be awarded this honor.