Norway–United Kingdom relations are foreign relations between Norway and the United Kingdom. The two nations have enjoyed very close cultural, economic, military and political cooperation since Norwegian independence in 1905.[1] Both countries are central allies in NATO, and also have many bilateral agreements involving trade and military ties.[2] Recently, the two have collaborated extensively to provide intelligence and arms to Ukraine during Russia's invasion of that country in 2022.[3][4]
Vikings of Norwegian stock particularly settled in certain areas of modern-day Scotland and Northern England, and to this day many people in these areas carry surnames derived from Old Norse words, such as Ainscough, or are of partial Norwegian descent.
In England, Norwegian Vikings began to arrive along the coast of the North West after being driven out of Ireland around the early tenth century. They are principally known for settling in The Wirral and Chester,[5] but evidence has strongly suggested that this expulsion also led to some settling in nearby West Derby Hundred (today split between Greater Manchester and Merseyside), Amounderness Hundred and Lonsdale Hundred in Lancashire. The Vikings were able to settle comfortably in these areas, as they were sparsely populated at that time.[6][7][8] Many place names in this area, such as North Meols, Scholes,[9]Skelmersdale[10] and Grimsargh[11] are of Old Norse origin, as are certain words in Lancashire dialect from this area, such as "skrike".[12] The Cuerdale Hoard and Silverdale Hoard were both discovered within this area. Around the same time, Norwegian Vikings moved on to settle in the area that today is Cumbria.[13]
In Scotland, the islands of Shetland and Orkney have longstanding historical and cultural connections with Norway. Most natives of Orkney and Shetland probably spoke Norn (North Germanic language related to dialects in Norway) as a first language until the late 16th and early-to-mid 17th centuries respectively.[14]
With Norway's complete independence from Sweden, the question arose as to a king for Norway. The choice of Prince Carl of Denmark, who became King Haakon VII, was largely seen as being influenced by two unusual factors: Denmark being a smaller nation meant that the Balance of Power in Europe would not be upset by Norway's instant alliance with the native land of its new king, and Carl's wife, Maud, was a British princess, which would be expected to lead to a close relationship with the United Kingdom, which could give Norway some protection from German hegemony.
During World War I, Norway was neutral. However, due to largely favouring the British over the Germans, Norway came to be known as The Neutral Ally.
World War II
British troops with Norwegian civilians after the Måløy Raid on 27 December 1941The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is donated to the people of London by the city of Oslo each year since 1947
During World War II, Norway was invaded and occupied by Germany, forcing the Norwegian king and government to create a government-in-exile in London. The British military also helped train and organise Norwegian commandos to attack Nazi installations in Norway. As a token of appreciation from the Norwegian people to the people of Britain, a Norwegian Christmas Tree is sent every year from Oslo to Trafalgar Square in London.[15]
Each year for the last sixty years, Newcastle upon Tyne has received a Christmas tree as a gift from the people of Bergen, one of Newcastle's twin cities. The impressive Norwegian spruce, standing at 45 feet tall, was personally felled by Gunnar Bakke who has been the Mayor of Bergen since September 2007. Each year the tree is decorated in traditional Norwegian white lights and is a symbol of peace and goodwill.
The people of Norway also send a tree to the town of Great Grimsby every Christmas since the end of World War II, for the past few years the tree has been selected by the people of Sortland.[16]
Brexit
In January 2020, with the imminent departure of Britain from the European Union, Norway and the UK signed an exclusive Brexit agreement between the two countries that would aim to maintain existing guarantees for citizens of either.[17]
In April 2021, negotiations on a bilateral agreement on fishing rights failed to reach an agreement.[18][19]
In June 2021, the two countries signed a trade deal.[20]
After the English town of Harwich was badly affected by the North Sea Flood of 1953, in which several people were made homeless, the Norwegian Government responded by funding the building of some wooden houses in the town. Despite being considered temporary, the houses still stand in Harwich today.[21]
The Royal Marines train annually in Norway, and are integrated into Norway's defence plans.[31] In March 2023, the UK opened a new military base in Norway, named Camp Viking.[32] In August 2024, Norwegian Defence Secretary Bjørn Arild Gram described the UK as Norway's "closest and most important European Ally" and pledged two ships to join the UK Carrier Strike Group during its Pacific deployment in 2025.[33]
Almlid, Geir K. Britain and Norway in Europe Since 1945: Outsiders (Springer Nature, 2020).
Barnes, Richard. "United Kingdom/Norway: Framework Agreement on Fisheries between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Norway." International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law 36.1 (2021): 155-164.
Garau, Salvatore. Fascism and Ideology: Italy, Britain, and Norway (Routledge, 2015) online.
Lucas, Colin. "Great Britain and the Union of Norway and Sweden." Scandinavian Journal of History 15.3-4 (1990): 269-278.
Nelsen, Brent F. "Explaining Petroleum Policy in Britain and Norway, 1962‐90." Scandinavian political studies 15.4 (1992): 307-328. online
Riste, Olav. "Britain and Norway: from War to Cold War, 1944–1951." Scandinavian journal of history 37.2 (2012): 164-170.
Wilkins, William Henry. A Queen of Tears: Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark and Norway and Princess of Great Britain and Ireland (Longmans, Green, and Company, 1904) online.
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