The price of peace: Norway braces for Trump’s reaction to Nobel decision

Collage by Kursiv.media, photo editor: Milosh Muratovskiy

With the Nobel Peace Prize announcement nearing, Norwegian officials are preparing for potential diplomatic tensions if Donald Trump is not chosen, according to The Guardian.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it made its decision earlier this week, before the recent Gaza ceasefire linked to Trump’s plan. Experts told Norwegian media that Trump is unlikely to win the award because the decision was made before the award was announced.

Norwegian politicians are being careful about how Trump might react if he is not chosen. Kirsti Bergstø, who leads the Socialist Left Party, said Oslo should be prepared for any result. She explained that the Nobel Committee works independently of the government, but she worries Trump might not recognize this distinction.

Trump has repeatedly claimed he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in negotiating international agreements and the recent Gaza ceasefire. However, critics argue that such efforts do not outweigh years of divisive policies and confrontational rhetoric.

Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, said the selection process is not political. However, he admitted that because the committee is appointed by parliament, people in other countries might see it differently.

Analyst Harald Stanghelle warned that Trump could react with tariffs, more pressure on NATO, or even diplomatic hostility, since he is seen as unpredictable. Nina Græger, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, listed her potential frontrunners for the prize as Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. She added that while Trump played a role in the Gaza ceasefire, it remains uncertain in her assessment whether his plan will lead to lasting peace, the Guardian reported.