U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer spoke about the relationship between North Dakota and Norway at the 12th annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference on April 17, delivering the Congressional keynote address.
The event highlighted how historic and cultural connections between North Dakota and Norway support ongoing security cooperation. Cramer said his own family history traces back to Erik Hjelden, who fought in the Norwegian War of Independence before Norway’s constitution was adopted in 1814. He noted that about one-third of North Dakotans have Norwegian ancestry, giving the state the highest percentage of citizens with such heritage in the United States.
“I love the theme of this year’s conference, ‘From Seabed to Space,’ because I do think the size of the country is not nearly as important as the dynamic that happens when one plus one equals more than two,” Cramer said during his remarks. “At a time when there’s talent on the factory floor, and talent in the executive suites, and talent in the engineering room, that we may have one or the other, maybe all. But together the dynamic of it is so much greater.”
Cramer said these longstanding ties now underpin a modern defense partnership focused on Arctic security and improved readiness across multiple domains. He emphasized collaboration through organizations like NATO: “When you look at a globe, it illustrates why the Arctic is so important,” he said. “None of us can protect our silo without protecting our country, without protecting our continent, without protecting our hemisphere, without protecting ourselves. We protect one another by protecting ourselves, and we protect ourselves by protecting one another.”
Cramer’s involvement includes participation in House and Senate Friends of Norway caucuses and hosting former Norwegian Ambassador Anniken Krutnes during her visit to North Dakota in 2024 for events highlighting heritage and defense priorities.
According to his official website, Cramer assists North Dakotans with federal agencies to resolve issues; he grew up in Kindred; earned degrees from Concordia College and University of Mary; served three terms as North Dakota’s at-large representative before joining the Senate; serves on committees covering Environment and Public Works, Veterans’ Affairs, Banking Housing & Urban Affairs; ran on energy policy; was first from his state on Armed Services Committee; has five children with wife Kris; and enjoys time with eight grandchildren.
