Norway’s finance minister to address Arctic security at Bilderberg conference
Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg will speak on Arctic security at this year’s Bilderberg conference, his office confirmed, though few details about his remarks have been disclosed. The elite gathering, held under strict confidentiality rules, takes place this weekend in the same city as the IMF’s spring meetings, which Stoltenberg is also attending.
The Finance Ministry stated that Stoltenberg “plans to participate in the conference this weekend” and will deliver a speech on Arctic security. He will also visit the New York offices of Norges Bank Investment Management during his US trip.
When asked by Dagbladet about the content of his address, Stoltenberg’s long-time adviser and state secretary, Sissel Kruse Larsen, provided limited details. She indicated the finance minister’s remarks would align with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide’s recent statement to parliament, emphasizing that Arctic security challenges “must be addressed within the framework of NATO.” Eide had noted in March that international attention on the Arctic—driven by geopolitical shifts and rapid climate change—“has never been greater.”
Kruse Larsen declined to elaborate on Stoltenberg’s specific talking points but stressed that “increased security in the Arctic must be resolved within NATO’s structure.” She also addressed questions about global economic instability, stating that while the recent ceasefire in Iran had temporarily lowered oil prices, “the consequences of the conflict will remain with us for some time,” depending on its duration and scale.
The Bilderberg Group, founded in the 1950s to foster transatlantic political and economic cooperation, has long faced speculation about its influence. Its annual meetings, attended by around 130 leaders from politics, business, and academia, operate under the Chatham House Rule, prohibiting participants from disclosing who said what. Select journalists are occasionally admitted but are similarly bound by confidentiality.
Stoltenberg, who served as NATO secretary-general until October 2024 before becoming finance minister in early 2025, was appointed to a leadership role in the Bilderberg Group in 2024 but stepped down upon entering government. This year’s conference will also mark the first attendance of Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund.
Kruse Larsen did not address whether Stoltenberg retains ties to the group or why Norwegian participation in the closed-door event aligns with social democratic values. She offered no further comment on his upcoming speech.