Department of Defense Spokesman Army Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout:
Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks visited Norway to meet with Norwegian and U.S. leaders and visit U.S. troops, May 23-24.
Dr. Hicks visited Oslo to discuss the U.S.-Norway defense relationship and cooperation, as well as Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, including the strong NATO unity in the face of Russian aggression.
Deputy Secretary Hicks met with Norway's Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram, Ministry of Defence State Secretary Bent-Joacim Bentzen, and Minister of Foreign Affairs State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson, among others.
Deputy Secretary Hicks thanked Norway for its proactive contributions to Ukraine throughout the current crisis, including air defense, light anti-armor, and artillery weapons, as well as committing $225 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries assisting Ukrainian refugees.
Hicks and Norwegian leaders discussed the extensive defense cooperation efforts, security cooperation in the High North, and the changing security landscape for NATO, as well as Norway's contributions to humanitarian and security missions around the world.
The leaders also exchanged views on the current security environment in Europe and the North Atlantic, and Russian activity in the High North, Baltic Sea, and Ukraine. In addition, they discussed shared concerns on challenges presented by the People's Republic of China.
Dr. Hicks, alongside State Secretary Bentzen, toured the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Porter and visited with U.S. Sailors in Oslo. The USS Porter's stop in Norway is an example of close U.S.-Norway defense cooperation and interoperability.
