The agreements that Norway has made with the US on intelligence cooperation, some of which are more than 70 years old, will remain secret, Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) said.

Last week, the SV asked the Secretary of Defense to contribute to the public about intelligence agreements it has made with the US, among them the first NORUSA treaty made in 1952.

Background is the information that appears in the book “Spy wars – Secret spy cooperation between Norway and the US” written by former NRK journalist Bård Wormdal.

The book details which facilities US intelligence has built in Norway, and how important these facilities are in US espionage against Russia.

Wormdal also documented that the Storting had never been informed of the scope of the business, which had been significantly financed by the US.

– The NORUSA agreement has never been a topic in parliament, he said.

– It makes sense to practice greater transparency also regarding formal agreements on intelligence cooperation, said Ingrid Fiskaa, who sits on the foreign affairs and defense committee for SV.

The Minister of Defense disagreed.

– Norway relies on international cooperation in the field of intelligence. Publicity surrounding certain collaborations can undermine the relationship of trust towards the current collaboration partners, said Gram’s reply to Fiskaa.

Publication of such agreements could also cast doubt on “Norway’s ability to protect sensitive matters”. This could result in Norway receiving less information on matters that are important to the country’s security, he argued.

– Which international partners does Norway have in the field of intelligence and in which areas does the cooperation take place is highly classified information according to the rules in the Security Act on the protection of information, said Gram.

He pointed out that the Storting control committee for the intelligence and security services, the EOS committee, had full access to the agreements that had been concluded.

(© NTB)