The Crown Prince of Norway is set to visit the United States for a major visit in the coming day.
Crown Prince Haakon’s trip, from December 5th to 9th 2021, was announced by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in November and it’s understood that it will go ahead despite growing concerns over the health situation in Europe. In recent days, the Belgian Royal Household has confirmed that the planned State Visit to Italy by King Phillippe and Queen Mathilde has been postponed. However, Belgium has already reported a case of the new omicron variant currently being monitored by scientists and public health officialis.
Crown Prince Haakon will visit New York from 6 to 7 December and Washington DC from 7 to 9 December.
Norway’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister of Petroleum and Energy Marte Mjøs Persen and Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre will also take part in the trip. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit will be wide-ranging. In addition to visiting the UN headquarters, the aim of the trip is to promote Norwegian cultural and business interests, climate and energy issues, the High North and the bilateral relationship between Norway and the United States.
Currently, the US allows fully vaccinated foreign nationals to enter without the need for self isolation.
Last time the Crown Prince was personally in the United States was in 2019. Crown Prince Haakon then had a hectic week in New York attending events regarding climate change. The Crown Prince visited at the same time as all the foreign ministers from the Nordic nations of Northern Europe and SICA countries.
Despite the pandemic, the Crown Prince has in both 2020 and 2021 conducted several digital meetings with US authorities and Norwegian authorities in New York and diplomatic employees. In January this year, Crown Prince Haakon participated in a digital meeting with the team that will lead the Norwegian efforts in the United Nations Security Council for the next two years. From the Skaugum Estate in Norway, Crown Prince Haakon attended the digital meeting on January 6th 2021 with the Norwegian UN team in New York.
