Hilde Henriksen Waage challenges Norway's self-image as a peace nation – and Støre must answer

For decades, we've comfortably embraced the story of Norway as a kind of peace superpower. From Gaza to Guatemala, via Sri Lanka and Colombia – Norwegians have been everywhere, hat in hand and wallets full of oil money. But behind the facade of good intentions, historian Hilde Henriksen Waage has spent more than twenty years digging up material that puts cracks in this self-image. Now, the debate has fully exploded, and the Prime Minister is on the defensive.

A researcher who can't be bought

Waage, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies and a professor at the University of Oslo, has made a name for herself by delving into archives others can't be bothered to open. She's been inside the innermost circles of Norwegian diplomacy, and what she finds doesn't fit the glossy picture. In her research on Norway's engagement in the Middle East, she uncovers a pattern where Norwegian actors were often more concerned with alliances with the U.S. and Israel than pushing for a fair two-state solution. It's an uncomfortable claim, but her documentation is solid.

What makes Hilde Henriksen Waage so distinctive is that she doesn't just nitpick at minor details. She challenges the very foundation of Norwegian foreign policy: the idea that we are a "neutral" and "moral" beacon. When she talks about the Oslo Accords, she reminds us they were largely negotiated in secret, without public input, and that the Palestinian side was pressured into accepting terms they really couldn't live with. This isn't the history we grew up with.

The reactions are swift in coming

In the wake of new interviews and lectures, Hilde Henriksen Waage has ignited the political debate. Several of her criticisms point directly at the current government. In a recent conversation with key political sources, it's clear that Jonas Gahr Støre is being asked to provide better answers. What did he know? What should he have known? Støre, himself a former foreign minister and state secretary, is part of the very establishment Waage is now questioning. She has reviewed documents from that period and claims the explanations provided by Norwegian authorities simply don't hold water. Several sources describe them as "outright lies" – strong language in Norwegian political discourse.

This is no longer just an academic discussion at the University of Oslo. It has become a hot potato in the corridors of the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament). When one of the country's foremost experts on peace diplomacy says we've been misleading the public, politicians have to step up. Støre has been restrained so far, but the pressure is mounting.

What exactly is Waage saying?

To understand the gravity of the situation, we can highlight some of the core points from Hilde Henriksen Waage's research and criticism:

• The neutrality myth: Norway has never been a neutral player in conflicts, but has always had its own interests – often tied to the NATO alliance and trade.
• Hidden agendas: A review of archives shows that Norwegian diplomats have sometimes withheld information from parties in a conflict, which undermines trust in the mediator role.
• Lack of self-criticism: Official Norway has refused to reckon with failed strategies, especially in the Middle East. Instead, we celebrate ourselves as the ultimate peace nation.
• The voice of power: Waage points out that it's often the strong parties that get their way in Norwegian diplomacy, while the weak are left with promises that never materialize.

These points are dynamite. Because if Waage is right, Norway's role in the world isn't just a matter of goodwill, but also of power politics and accommodation. And that's precisely why she becomes so dangerous for those in power.

A necessary wake-up call

Whether you agree with her or not, Hilde Henriksen Waage forces us to look inward. What is Norwegian foreign policy really about? Are we the altruistic helpers we like to believe, or just a small state adapting to the major powers? This week, the debate has ebbed and flowed, and it will certainly continue. One thing is for sure: the researcher from the University of Oslo has managed to touch a nerve deep in the Norwegian national psyche. And once the stitches start to come loose, it's hard to sew it all back together.

Now, it remains to be seen whether Støre and company can provide the answers that Waage and the public are demanding. Because history has a way of catching up with us – and right now, the historian is the one knocking on the door.