India, Nordic nations elevate ties to Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership at Oslo summit

By Aroonim Bhuyan

New Delhi/Oslo, May 19. India and the five Nordic countries agreed to significantly upgrade their cooperation by launching a ‘Trusted Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership’ at the third India-Nordic Summit hosted by Jonas Gahr Store in Oslo on May 19.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – Mette Frederiksen, Petteri Orpo, Kristrun Mjöll Frostadottir, and Ulf Kristersson – to chart a deeper, values-based partnership amid global geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological and economic change.

Building on earlier summits in Copenhagen (2022) and Stockholm (2018), the leaders underlined their shared commitment as democracies and open market economies to strengthen a rules-based international order rooted in international law, sovereignty, human rights, gender equality and the UN Charter.

Backing India at the UN, push for multilateral reform

The Nordic leaders reiterated their support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council and welcomed New Delhi’s application to join the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group. The six leaders called for urgent reform of multilateral institutions to better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities and reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations in global governance.

Trade, investment and supply chain resilience

The summit highlighted growing trade and investment ties between India and the Nordic region, with leaders welcoming the operationalisation of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement and the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. They noted that these frameworks would not only improve market access but also diversify critical value chains and enhance economic resilience.

The EFTA countries’ commitment to target $100 billion in investments in India, potentially generating one million direct jobs, was underlined as a major pillar of future cooperation. Leaders also emphasised improving connectivity between the Nordic region and the Indo-Pacific, including through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

Maritime security and the Indo-Pacific

The six countries agreed to step up maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, stressing freedom of navigation in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They committed to tackling illicit maritime activities such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing and maritime pollution, and noted the launch of dedicated Maritime Security Dialogues between India, Norway and Denmark.

Climate action, green transition and blue economy

Climate cooperation emerged as a core pillar of the new partnership. The leaders emphasised urgent climate action under the Paris Agreement, the need for affordable climate finance, and collaboration in renewable energy, green hydrogen, carbon capture and critical minerals.

They welcomed expanded Nordic participation in the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT 2.0) and pledged to work together to end plastic pollution through a legally binding global framework.

The leaders also committed to advancing a sustainable blue economy, including greener shipping, sustainable ship recycling under the Hong Kong Convention, and cooperation between shipyards and maritime industries.

AI, digital infrastructure, research and space

The summit underscored cooperation in digitalisation, artificial intelligence governance, trusted computing infrastructure and next-generation telecom technologies including 6G. The Nordic leaders welcomed India’s hosting of the AI Impact Summit earlier this year.

In space cooperation, the leaders welcomed a framework agreement between Indian Space Research Organisation and the Norwegian Space Agency, as well as Sweden’s proposal to contribute a payload to India’s Venus Orbiter Mission. Enhanced research collaboration, startup exchanges and STEM partnerships were also encouraged.

Arctic cooperation and polar research

Recognising the growing linkage between the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific, the Nordic leaders welcomed India’s constructive engagement as an observer in the Arctic Council and called for deeper collaboration in polar research, climate science and environmental studies.

Defence industry and security cooperation

The leaders noted rising momentum in defence cooperation, including opportunities for Nordic firms to invest in India’s defence industrial corridors under the country’s liberalised FDI regime.

On global security issues, they expressed concern over the wars in Ukraine and West Asia, called for dialogue-based resolution of conflicts, stressed freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated the need for sustained humanitarian assistance in Gaza in line with UN resolutions.

Strong condemnation of terrorism

The leaders strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism. They specifically denounced the terror attacks in Pahalgam in April 2025 and near Red Fort in Delhi in November 2025, and pledged closer cooperation on counter-terror financing, radicalisation and misuse of emerging technologies by terrorist groups.

People-to-people and mobility

The six countries welcomed growing cultural exchanges, tourism and talent mobility. They also endorsed the continuation of the Nordic-India Dialogue between think tanks and research institutions, with the third edition to be hosted in India later this year.

The leaders concluded the summit by reaffirming their commitment to deepen India-Nordic cooperation across sectors. Finland will host the fourth India-Nordic Summit.