2008-04-14/Norwegian party rallies sisters on missile defence
By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, April 14, 2008
Left-wing Norwegian party calls on Danish, Swedish sister parties for help against missile defence system
A Norwegian political party called the Socialist Left - part of the coalition government - is calling on its Danish and Swedish sister parties (Socialist People’s Party and Left Party) for help against the planned missile defence system in Europe.
The Socialist Left Party’s stand on the missile defence system contrasts with the Labour Party’s (the main member of coalition government), and the Norwegians had to manipulate the Bucharest summit so Nato appeared not to take a final decision on implementing the missile defence system. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, ‘We acknowledge that the threat from long-distance missiles against Nato territories is rising. In itself, the American missle defence system will provide increased protection against that threat. But the question is whether it will also lead to a new arms race.’
This also meant the government continues, although the differences in opinion have brought it near to a split.
The Danish party stands alongside the Socialist Left on this, but the subject has never really been debated in Denmark.