We Must Talk to Everyone

Cutting contact with parties to conflicts may be politically tempting, but it leaves Norway less prepared when crises erupt. That is the central warning from Johan Vibe, director of Noref, who argues that talking to everyone is itself a form of preparedness.

Norway’s contact with conflict actors is not unusual, Vibe writes. Successive governments have followed the principle for decades. Such contact diplomacy does not amount to support or political approval. It preserves channels to actors who can influence whether a conflict escalates or eases.

Breaking off those channels carries a cost, he argues: Norway knows less, reaches fewer people and has less room to act when crisis management becomes urgent. Diplomatic contact should not be treated as a rival to military preparedness. It is one of its components, alongside military strength and alliances.

Vibe points to Ukraine, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and Venezuela as arenas where powers test borders, spheres of influence and rules on which Norway depends. Unresolved conflicts can affect energy markets, food security, supply chains, sovereignty and democratic government. The Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea show how regional crises can quickly reach Norwegian daily life and business interests.

Military solutions alone cannot create stability and may contribute to escalation, he says. Strategic diplomacy remains necessary even when major powers dominate a conflict. In a period of geopolitical upheaval, Vibe argues, Norway needs both the resources to defend itself and the diplomatic channels that can help it understand and manage crises.