Anniken Huitfeldt

Huitfeldt served as Minister of Children and Equality from 2008 to 2009, Minister of Culture from 2009 to 2012 and Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion from 2012 to 2013 under Jens Stoltenberg. Her seat in Parliament was covered by deputies Gorm Kjernli (2008–2009) and Are Helseth (2009–2013).[1]

Following the 2021 election, Huitfeldt was seen as a strong favourite to become minister of foreign affairs, in addition to Espen Barth Eide and Raymond Johansen. However, some anonymous sources noted her as a possible candidate as minister of education, which was interpreted as a way to sabotage her foreign minister candidacy by Labour Party sources. The reason behind this was seen by them as retaliation for her inaction to make a clear standing against Trond Giske at the time of MeToo within the party.[4][5] Despite this, she was subsequently appointed as minister of foreign affairs on 14 October 2021.

On 29 February 2008, she became Minister of Children and Equality in Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet. She was appointed following the resignation of Manuela Ramin-Osmundsen following a scandal involving cronyism.[6]

In July, Huitfeldt demanded permission to visit a Palestinian friend in an Israeli prison. The person in question, was Hussam Shaheen, who in 2004 was designated as the secretary of Fatah's international youth. Since December 2006, both Huitfeldt and several other Labour MPs had demanded permission to visit Shaheen. Huitfeldt further said: "If Israel is a country of rule of law, they should give me such permission. At least give me an answer with a reason". The Israeli embassy in Oslo responded with saying that the guidelines only permitted relatives and families of prisoners.[7]

In March 2009, Huitfeldt met with Menije Ravandost, who had wrongly lost her residence permit after having been smuggled to Iran against her will. She described Ravandost's story as giving "a useful impression", and further added: "her story is important so that we in the ministry can make good laws and rules".[8]

Following the 2009 election, Huitfeldt was appointed minister of culture on 20 October.[9]

Huitfeldt caused controversy in January 2010 when it was announced that she was travelling to see the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, with her husband, Ola Flem. This was because the bill for the trip—around 37,000 NOK—was paid by the state with taxpayers' money. Huitfeldt defended the action, arguing that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended it, and that the trip was a representation mission, and that her husband in this case, served as her companion.[10]

In March 2010, Huitfeldt announced that it was unnecessary for the state to take over the ownership of the digital variant of Store norske leksikon despite a prior proposal that ensured it would be taken down by 1 July 2010. She further stated that people should be allowed to utilise sources they seem fit.[11]

Following controversy over the appointment of a new director for the Language Council of Norway in October 2010, Huitfeldt issued an apology after four out of the seven board members resigned.[12]

Huitfeldt opened Rock City on 11 November 2011, a new national resource center for pop and rock, in Namsos, Trøndelag.[13]

In August 2012, Huitfeldt announced that 400 000 NOK would be spent to map out the status of Norwegian music export. She stated that "We must treat the music industry as an industry, and then it is important to have this report made".[14]

Huitfeldt and her husband attended Turtagrø Fjellfilmfestival in addition to celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary in early September 2012.[15]

After the new study into the Munch museum in mid September, the family demanded that Huitfeldt have a say in the critical process after MP Ib Thomsen called on her to assist the municipality with finding a solution.[16]

On 21 September 2012, Stoltenberg commenced a reshuffle where Huitfeldt was appointed minister of labour and social inclusion.[17]

In early December, Huitfeldt expressed concerns over safety measures on Norwegian oil rigs while visiting the Statfjord C rig. She notably said: "There have been three serious incidents on the Norwegian shelf this autumn and there is great risk potential in this work. We have a high degree of security but this is still a high risk". She also promised that 20 million NOK would be spent on improving control inspections on Norwegian rigs.[18]

On 12 December, Huitfeldt put forward a proposal to give recently educated working women a full time job. This also included would also give part-time employees a job percentage that is in line with how much they actually work.[19]

In late January 2013, Huitfeldt encouraged people to notify if they hear or overhear someone boasting about having tricked the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, following the release of the 2012 report of social security fraud. The report revealed that there had been an unusual high amount of fraud having occurred that year.[20]

In August, NTB revealed that 68 200 people could loose their NAV support. The reason given was that could not receive work clearance money (Norwegian: arbeidsavklaring-penger, AAP) for more than four years. Huitfeldt commented: "I would strongly warn against believing that all of these will be transferred to disability pensions. Some will return to work. And some will go into disability pension". Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg criticised by saying that "the government has said very little on what is going to happen".[21]

Following the Red-Green coalition's defeat in the 2013 election, Huitfeldt was succeeded by the Progress Party's Robert Eriksson.

Huitfeldt with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2021

She was appointed minister of foreign affairs on 14 October 2021 in Jonas Gahr Støre's cabinet.[22]

A week into the new government's tenure, Huitfeldt stated it was irrelevant to Norway to bring back several women associated or have fought for ISIS. She specified it regarded those who traveled out as "foreign warriors", but emphasised that every individual had the right to consular aid. She further added that the government was worried about those with children. Aid organisation Redd Barna stated that the government should be obligated to bring the children home, criticism which was notably reiterated by the Green Party, Liberal Party, Red Party and the Socialist Left. The latter stated that "Norway has a judicial and moral responsibility to bring home Norwegian citizens and their children".[23]

A day ahead of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council meeting, Huitfeldt met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Tromsø, where they also put flowers on the grave of fallen Soviet soldiers. Huitfeldt also received an invitation from Lavrov to visit Moscow.[24]

Huitfeldt advised that the EEA committee would be discussing the European Union's railway policy on 29 October, and added: "The meeting of the EEA Committee on 29 October is the first since the change of government. I can confirm that Norway's representative will make the EU side aware of the government platform at this meeting. We will inform our EEA / EFTA partners of this in advance." She went on to add: "we are particularly skeptical about the requirements concerning the tendering of passenger train traffic. We believe that tenders are not the right tool to offer travelers a good railway offer. There should be great national freedom to opt out of this". She further said that contracts could still be given directly before the transition expires on 25 December 2023, and last up to ten years.[25]

She chaired the Barents Euro-Arctic Council meeting on 26 October, where she also expressed that she wanted to strengthen relations in the north.[26]

Huitfeldt expressed concerns about the humanitarian situation in Syria, specifically citing human suffering as the seasons change. She also stated that Norway would be assisting with 107,5 NOK to the United Nations and human aid organisations.[27]

She expressed sympathy for Poland regarding the ongoing migrant crisis at its border with Belarus. She stated that "Poland is in a very difficult situation", and also criticised Belarusian authorities for using vulnerable people as foreign policy leverage.[28]

In December, she and fellow ministers Marte Mjøs Persen and Jan Christian Vestre, and Crown Prince Haakon visited the United States to promote Norwegian interests notably regarding "War, the Arctic, offshore wind, contemporary art and Christmas trees". Huitfeldt stated: "The main message is to strengthen the partnership between Norway and the United States through a green partnership. This is where we have a lot to offer in meeting the Americans".[29]

On 17 December, Huitfeldt expressed support for the European Union and NATO's proposal of sanctions against Russia should they invade Ukraine. Huitfeldt said it "would have strong economic and political consequences if they utilise military means". She also encouraged that the Russians should de-escalate. Huitfeldt also expressed concerns over a possible build-up to a possible armed conflict.[30]

Red Party leader Bjørnar Moxnes sent a written question to Huitfeldt on 21 December, asking her to do something to prevent the extradition of Julian Assange. She made it clear that she can't interfere in foreign court situations, and added: "Norway expects that the United Kingdom, the United States and all other countries to comply with their international human rights obligations". Moxnes in return criticised her, saying: "The Foreign Minister's tacit consent to Norway's closest allies killing Assange is a shameful betrayal of freedom of expression and human rights".[31]

On 2 January 2022, Huitfeldt expressed concerns over the upcoming EU negotiations about EEA funds on background of Hungary blocking proposals in the EEA council in November 2021. She called it unfortunate that they were willing to let the ongoing disagreements with Norway affect internal EEA cooperation. Huitfeldt also expressed concerns about democracy in both Hungary and Poland, and emphasised that Norway doesn't want conflicts, but would not back down on their demands on the rule of law and independent civil society.[32]

Two days later, she responded to a written question submitted by Red Party leader Bjørnar Moxnes in December, regarding Israel's listing of six Palestinian organisations. The cause for concern was due to Norway supporting three of the said organisations. Huitfeldt stated that Norway and other supporting countries have asked Israel to give documentation on their allegations against the organisations.[33]

At a joint press conference with defence minister Odd Roger Enoksen on 14 January, Huitfeldt expressed concerns about NATO's negotiations with Russia. She stated: "This week there have been several meetings in various European capitals. We want negotiations and talks on these issues to get a diplomatic solution to this difficult issue". She went on to say: "It is difficult to predict what will happen, and we keep all possibilities open. But the first signals we have received from Moscow do not give cause for optimism". On the topic of the cyberattack in Ukraine, Huitfeldt said: "I do not know the details of the cyberattack, other than what has appeared in the media. We will gather more information about this during the day. We see that the cyber domain is an arena where there is escalation, so of course it is serious".[34]

Huitfeldt announced on 11 February that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be asking Norwegian citizens in Ukraine to come back home, as a reaction in anticipation of a possible invasion by Russia.[35] On 21 February, she condemned Russia's diplomatic recognition of two self-proclaimed separatist republics in Donbas.[36]

On 27 February, Huitfeldt announced that Norway would be closing their airspace for Russian airlines. She stated: "We have consulted with our Nordic neighbors and will close the airspace to Russian flights at the same time as they do".[37]

In March, Huitfeldt stated that Russia doesn't have the right to invade Norway because of they assisted in sending weapons to Ukraine. She also emphasised that their participation didn't violate international law and that it shouldn't be viewed as an armed attack against Russia. She wrote: "In order for Norway to be considered a party to the war, we must actively participate in military operations in Ukraine with Norwegian military forces or in the exercise of control or control of the use of force by Norwegian forces. The weapons support we now contribute with cannot be considered as such participation".[38]

Huitfeldt accused Russia of spreading falsehoods about Ukraine having biological weapons labs, stating: "Biological weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction. All use of biological weapons is prohibited and something Norway strongly condemns. There is no indication that Ukraine is developing such weapons. On the other hand, most indications are that Russia, by promoting such accusations, is trying to expand its own room for manoeuvre in the war". She went on to add that it would also be Norway's message at the United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday, 18 March.[39]

On 6 April, Huitfeldt announced that Norway would expel three Russian diplomats, stating: "The three have conducted activities that are incompatible with their diplomatic status". She also noted that the timing wasn't coincidental either: "They come at a time when the whole world is shaken by reports of Russian forces abusing civilians, especially in the city of Butsja outside Kyiv. It is natural that in such a situation we pay increased attention to unwanted Russian activities in Norway".[40]

On 23 April, she confirmed that Norway and Russia did not have any political contact at present as a result of their invasion of Ukraine. On the question of excluding more diplomats, Huitfeldt said that “one can never rule anything out in this war”. She also didn’t want to speculate if Norway would actually exclude more Russian diplomats, arguing that they had already excluded the ones they wanted to exclude.[41]