German Chancellor Friedrich Merz began his visit to Norway on Thursday evening by stressing the importance of the strategic partnership with the NATO member state.
Cooperation between the two countries works “extremely well” and has “potential for the future,” Merz said during talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre shortly after arriving on the island of Andøya, about 300 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
On Friday, the two leaders plan to visit the Andøya Spaceport in Andenes, from where more than 700 research rockets and balloons have been launched since 1962.
In the coming days, the Spectrum rocket, which is designed by German startup company Isar Aerospace to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit, is due to undergo testing there.
They will then continue to the Bardufoss Air Station. There, Merz and Støre, together with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, will observe the Cold Response military exercise. According to the Norwegian armed forces, more than 32,500 soldiers from 14 NATO countries are taking part in the drills in Norway and Finland, including around 1,600 members from Germany.
The three leaders are also expected to discuss Canada joining the joint production of submarines, in which Germany and Norway already cooperate.
The visit will also focus on energy security amid rising oil and gas prices linked to the war involving Iran. About 48% of Germany’s natural gas imports and 9% of its oil imports come from Norway.