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

For decades, we have comfortably embraced the narrative of Norway as something of a peace superpower. From Gaza to Guatemala, via Sri Lanka and Colombia – Norwegians have been everywhere, with a humble demeanour and pockets full of oil money. But behind the facade of good intentions, historian Hilde Henriksen Waage has, for over twenty years, unearthed material that puts cracks in this self-perception. Now, the debate has fully exploded, and the Prime Minister finds himself on the defensive.

A researcher who cannot be bought

Waage, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies and a professor at the University of Oslo, has specialised in archives that others can't be bothered to open. She has gained access to the innermost circles of Norwegian diplomacy, and what she finds paints a very different picture from the glossy one we are used to. In her research on Norway's engagement in the Middle East, she uncovers a pattern where Norwegian actors have often been more concerned with alliances with the US and Israel than with 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 minor details. She challenges the very foundation of Norwegian foreign policy: the idea that we are a 'neutral' and 'moral' beacon. When she discusses the Oslo Accords, she reminds us that they were largely crafted in secret, without public mandate, and that the Palestinian side was pressured into accepting terms they ultimately couldn't live with. This isn't the history we grew up with.

The reactions are not long 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 becomes clear that Jonas Gahr Støre is being asked to provide a better explanation. What did he know? What should he have known? Støre, who himself has been Foreign Minister and State Secretary, is part of the same establishment that Waage is now questioning. She has reviewed documents from that period and claims that the explanations provided by Norwegian authorities simply do not hold water. Several sources describe them as 'downright lies' – strong words in Norwegian political discourse.

This is no longer just an academic discussion at Blindern. It has become a hot potato in the corridors of the Storting (Norwegian Parliament). When one of the country's foremost experts on peace diplomacy says we have been misleading the public, politicians have to step up. Støre has been reticent 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 myth of neutrality: 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: Reviews of archives show that Norwegian diplomats have, at times, 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 language of power: Waage points out that it is often the stronger parties that get their way in Norwegian diplomacy, while the weaker ones are left with promises that are never kept.

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 adaptation. And that's precisely why she becomes so threatening to 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 we are, or just a small state that adapts 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 that runs deep in the Norwegian national psyche. And once the stitches start to loosen, it's hard to sew it all back together.

Now, it remains to be seen whether Støre and his team can provide the answers that Waage and the public are demanding. Because history has a tendency to catch up with us – and right now, it's a historian knocking on the door.