• Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Prime Minister, continues to hand out licences to explore and drill the Arctic for oil and gas.
• Støre disregards the EU’s call for a moratorium on Arctic drilling to sustain fossil fuel production as current extraction sites are maturing.
• The Norwegian economy centres on revenue from oil and gas exports, making the Arctic both an economic and a security issue.

Why is Støre HOT?

Answer: Støre sustains Arctic drilling as current extraction sites are ageing to continue providing oil and gas to the EU and the UK amid the energy crisis. 

In the midst of the most recent global energy crisis, Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, advances the country’s Arctic Policy, exploiting the Barents Sea for energy and critical resources. About 82.4% of Norway’s total energy consumption comes from renewables. Yet, oil and gas remain an economic pillar in the Norwegian energy sector. They represent 57% of the country’s exports, bringing 1000 billion NOK in revenue to the economy which corresponds to 20% of GDP.

Norway’s role in Europe’s energy supply expanded after Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, it has become the largest provider of gas to the EU and the UK, supplying about 30% of the bloc’s gas, and one of the top three oil suppliers, supplying 12.8% of its oil. Norway’s role in the European supply chain scaled up after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz; the chokepoint carries 20% of the world’s oil, whose closure triggered a global energy crisis.

However, current oil extraction sites are maturing. In fact, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate (NOD) reports that production in Norway is set to decline by the 2030s. In the face of a reduction in output, Støre seeks Arctic exploration as a solution to maintain future production of these fossil fuels. The NOD estimates that the Barents Sea holds around 3.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent of natural gas. New extraction sites in the region are predicted to last for at least 30 years, supporting long-term energy security and economic growth in Norway.

Although political tensions over environmental concerns have emerged between the EU and Norway regarding drilling in the Barents Sea, Støre is pursuing oil drilling and exploration at new sites in the Arctic, leaving him HOT.

What is changing Støre’s heat level?

Answer: Støre’s HOT Arctic drilling is not affected by the EU’s threat of a moratorium and climate activists’ lawsuits.

The EU called for a moratorium on Arctic drilling in 2021 to address environmental degradation caused by the extraction practice. Nevertheless, Støre’s government continues issuing licenses to oil companies for drilling and exploration in the region. The 2022 energy crisis increased the EU’s reliance on Norway for energy supplies, increasing the Nordic state’s leverage in the relationship. Additionally, the PM argues that the renewable energy sector in Norway is not sufficient to provide for the EU’s energy needs, refusing to act as a “green battery”. Støre’s government remains unfazed by the threat of a moratorium and stated that it will seek other trade partners if the EU decides to stop buying Norwegian oil.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) ​Executive Director Fatih Birol has also urged the EU ⁠to reconsider its opposition to new Arctic oil and gas developments, arguing that future supplies will be needed to support energy security. 

While Norway dismissed the EU’s threats of a moratorium, Norway’s Arctic ambitions faced domestic resistance. In 2016, Greenpeace filed a lawsuit opposing Arctic drilling, but Norway’s Supreme Court dismissed it in 2020 because it judged that individuals’ rights to a healthy environment were not harmed through the process. In 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued its judgment, requiring Norway to assess the cumulative climate impact before granting final project approval. Despite pushback from climate activists, their actions had little impact on Støre’s Arctic exploration.

What is driving Støre?

Answer: By maintaining Norway’s oil production, Støre plans to improve the country’s welfare and energy autonomy, supporting his beliefs and governance goals.

Støre leads the Arbeiderpartiet (Norway’s Labour Party), where he works to build a strong welfare system that reduces inequality and strengthens Norway’s economy and security. Arctic drilling is an important piece of this agenda. Støre reframes Arctic drilling as an economic opportunity rather than an environmental issue. Revenue from energy exports and critical minerals will sustain the economy by generating jobs and financing education, pensions, and healthcare. 

Furthermore, Støre frames the policy as a security issue, stressing that oil and gas drilling supports employment and settlement in regions bordering Russia. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Norway followed the EU’s objectives and also imposed sanctions on its neighbour. Creating jobs and maintaining civilian and military activity at the border serves as a front line, asserting presence in the North and protecting the Norwegian border and national security. Moreover, the Arctic is rich in critical rare earths crucial for the development of technology, military, and renewable energy. By securing these essential resources, Norway backs the EU’s autonomy strategy reducing dependency on China regarding energy security and defence. 

What does this mean for you?

Answer: The Arctic is becoming increasingly important for energy resources, and Norway is competing with other powers that have direct access to the region.

Climate change has deeply affected the Arctic’s ecosystem. Due to rising temperatures, large surfaces of ice are melting, which facilitates access to oil and critical minerals. Leaders treat the region as both an economic opportunity and a security concern. Russia is increasing its military presence and extraction projects; meanwhile, China calls itself a near-Arctic state and is developing new trade routes in the region. 

In August 2026, China launched the first regular ‘Ice Silk Road‘ container service along Russia’s Northern Sea Route. In September 2026, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to become the EU’s first associate member, with Arctic resources and defence among the areas of cooperation. Norway is also under pressure to exploit its share of the region to help itself and Europe to stay competitive with other countries already exploiting the region.