Norway’s government has announced that the country’s foreign ministry will close five foreign missions next year, including three embassies, one embassy, and one consulate general.
In a statement released on Friday, September 9, the government said it would increase the staffing of some foreign missions in 2023, particularly in Europe, to cope with the increased workload.
On the list of embassies that will be closed in 2023: are Bratislava – Slovakia, Colombo – Sri Lanka, and in Pristina – Kosovo. The embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and the consulate general in Houston, USA, will also cease to operate next year.
The statement said that Norway’s diplomatic presence in Kosovo, Madagascar, Slovakia, and Sri Lanka will be carried out “in a different way”. For example, these countries can attach to neighbors where there is a Norwegian presence.
Currently, Norway has 101 foreign representations abroad. In the future, this number will decrease, but diplomats are not going to be cut or fired.
“The Norwegian diplomatic service consists of more than 2,600 employees, of which about 800 are in Oslo, more than 600 diplomats are stationed in the field, and approximately 1,200 local employees who work directly in foreign missions,” the statement explained.
Embassies like those in Bucharest, Kyiv, and Vilnius, along with Norway’s delegates to the EU and NATO in Brussels, will be strengthened by more diplomats in 2023. Thus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considering the possibility of further strengthening at the expense of diplomats or employees hired on the ground.
In addition, in 2023, Norway will also strengthen foreign staff in directions outside Europe.