Oslo summit: India-Nordic connect comes of age

In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s four-nation tour of Europe from May 16-20, the India-Nordic summit, held in Oslo on May 19, occupied a prominent place. This was a conference of six nations: India, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Representing a population of nearly 28 million and a GDP exceeding $2 trillion, the Nordic Five is an important middle power with a strong hold on deep tech and innovation.

The summit broke new ground by launching “a trusted Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership” between India and the Nordic nations. A shared view on global issues and a commitment to deepen cooperation between the two sides brought them closer together.

The summit took place as Modi visited Sweden and Norway. During his stay in Oslo, he also held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.

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The latest summit was preceded by its previous two iterations, held in Stockholm in 2018 and in Copenhagen in 2022. The next summit will be hosted by Finland. The India-Nordic connect adds an important and interesting dimension to India’s multifaceted diplomacy in Europe, in response to Europeans’ growing interest in forging stronger ties with an important Asian power.

A look at the rich collection of photographs from this visit (available on the MEA website) reveals how warmly the Indian PM connected with the European leaders he met and with members of the Indian diaspora.

Two Key Pillars

A careful reading of the joint statement, issued at the conclusion of the Oslo summit, indicates that this special relationship is anchored on two principal pillars.

One, all six member countries of this informal plurilateral platform are vibrant democracies and market economies governed by the rule of law and are committed to fostering “a robust and resilient global order” that promotes peace, stability, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. It was natural for them to reiterate the importance of “an effective multilateral system” and to renew the call for UN reform. The Nordic side again expressed support for India's permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.

Two, they attached great importance to expanding trade, investment, and economic cooperation, especially through the early operationalisation of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement and the optimal implementation of the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). To quote the joint statement, “They welcomed the shared objectives under TEPA that EFTA states shall aim for investment of USD100 billion leading to the creation of one million direct jobs in India.”

It is noteworthy that over 700 Nordic companies operate in India today, and about 150 Indian companies are present and functioning in the Nordic countries. An increase in their number and expansion of their activities can bring further benefits to both sides.

Other Dimensions

The India-Nordic relationship transcends the conventional domains of trade, investment, and economic cooperation. As a senior Indian official put it, Nordic countries are at the forefront in niche technologies in the areas of innovation; clean and green technology solutions; sustainability; renewable energy, including offshore wind, green hydrogen, and green methanol; blue economy; green shipping corridors; port modernisation; food processing; and health and life sciences. This explains why the dialogue in Oslo paid special attention to climate action, the green transition and the environment; the blue economy; artificial intelligence, innovation, research, education, and space; and Arctic and polar research.

In addition, the potential for cooperation in the defence industry and maritime security was explored, and clear guidance was provided to officials to advance these areas for mutual benefit.

In his statement to the media, Modi was quite specific in underlining where the synergies lay. He observed that a combination of Iceland’s expertise in geothermal energy, Norway’s strengths in the blue economy and the Arctic, Sweden’s advanced manufacturing and defence capabilities, Finland’s expertise in telecommunications and digital tech, and Denmark’s strengths in cybersecurity and health tech, with “India’s talent pool", would result in “trusted solutions for the world".

In contrast, Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre, the host, explained the rationale for the summit in simple terms. He observed that it was “a manifestation” of what a more predictable world really needs: more cooperation between democracies. Peace, security, trade, and economic relations were discussed, he said, adding that at a time marked by wars in Europe and the Middle East, when the supply chains and energy markets face huge challenges, “We have to step up our voice, speak out at the right locations.” The summit gave participants “a good opportunity to unite around positions that we can take forward – together and in different fora”.

This summit differed from the previous two in context and outcomes. As the prestigious magazine India’s World explained on May 20, the backdrop was fundamentally different due to three reasons: “a live trade architecture, a newly concluded mega-FTA, and an acute energy shock”. As to the results, the third summit was undoubtedly given a more specific and practical orientation.

Assessment

Support for what the India-Nordic connect is trying to achieve came from across India's political spectrum. Shashi Tharoor, former minister of state for external affairs in the Congress-led government, argued that there is a strong alignment between Scandinavia’s reputation for social innovation, green technology, and democratic resilience and India’s own aspirations for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Besides, both sides share “a common interest in defending world order and stability".

On the other hand, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former foreign secretary and now BJP Member of Parliament, termed Modi’s interaction with five Nordic nations as opening “a new chapter“ in India’s engagement with Europe. The real value of the Nordic relationship, he stressed, is “that it broadens India’s room for manoeuvre" by giving it “additional channels“ into European markets, technology, and “standards-setting conversations".

In the end, it is apt to suggest that India’s strategic community needs to pay greater attention to the Nordic region of Europe to understand what drives it and how these five nations have achieved so much despite small populations. A deeper study of political, economic, social, and foreign policy trends in the Nordic region, especially by think tanks operating outside Delhi, will prove to be a prudent investment. In this realm, the government currently stands ahead of the curve. Universities and strategic experts need to catch up!

(Rajiv Bhatia is a Distinguished Fellow at Gateway House. He is a former Indian ambassador to several countries. He also served in India’s missions in Paris and Brussels. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost.)