Trump’s new envoy to Norway travelled straight from the Royal Palace to the Russian border
Ambassador Michael Kavoukjian flew north to Kirkenes immediately after presenting his credentials to King Haakon, where Norway’s Minister of Defence took him on a guided tour of the border with Russia.
Donald Trump’s new ambassador to Norway did exactly what he promised during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in May.
“The first thing I would do is present my credentials to the king,” Michael Kavoukjian told senators.
He then outlined his next move:
“I would then plan to immediately get on a plane and fly to Kirkenes on the Russian border with top-level Norwegian military and intelligence officials to hold meetings with them and local officials about the Russian and Chinese activities on the border and the threats that they’re perceiving there as well as in the Greater Arctic.”
On November 5, Kavoukjian wasted little time putting his words into action.
The new ambassador presented his credentials to King Haakon in the morning. Just a few hours later, a US Air Force Beechcraft C-12D Huron took off from Oslo Gardermoen Airport, bound for Kirkenes.
On board were the former CIA officer, Norway’s Minister of Defence, Tore O. Sandvik, and State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The small propeller aircraft would normally reach Kirkenes in around three and a half hours. But strong headwinds extended the journey, forcing the pilots to make an unscheduled refuelling stop in Rovaniemi, northern Finland.
The stop was notable in itself. Rovaniemi is home to the Finnish Air Force’s Lapland Air Wing, which received its first US-built fifth-generation F-35 multi-role fighter jets in September. There was, however, no time for a closer look at the F-35 base. The ambassador still had to reach Kirkenes before midnight to keep his promise of visiting the town on his first day as US Ambassador to Norway.
Despite the late arrival, Ambassador Michael Kavoukjian went straight to dinner with Kirkenes Mayor Magnus Mæland to hear firsthand how local residents view developments in the borderland with Russia and the challenges facing their community.
“I had a very pleasant meeting with the Ambassador, Mæland told the Barents Observer.
"He was clearly interested in both the geopolitical and geo-economic realities facing the municipality. I regard the Ambassador as an important partner for our municipality.” the Kirkenes Mayor added.
… this article will be updated…
