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Norway joins EU Baltic Sea Strategy, bolstering regional security

5/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Norway became the first non-EU nation to join the EU’s Baltic Sea Strategy on May 18.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the membership will deepen Norway’s EU cooperation and boost regional security.
The Baltic Sea region stays on high alert after power-cable, telecom and gas-pipeline outages since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while the 2009 strategy seeks greener shipping and energy resilience.

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Story summary

Norway became the first non-EU nation to join the EU’s Baltic Sea Strategy on May 18.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the membership will deepen Norway’s EU cooperation and boost regional security.
The Baltic Sea region stays on high alert after power-cable, telecom and gas-pipeline outages since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while the 2009 strategy seeks greener shipping and energy resilience.