**Oslo**: Haltbakk Bunkers has announced it will stop fuel supplies to US forces in Norway, citing disapproval of President Trump’s actions during his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. The company’s CEO advocates for a boycott, linking the decision to support for Ukraine amid ongoing international tensions.
A significant turn of events has unfolded involving Norway-based Haltbakk Bunkers, a prominent oil and shipping company, as it has announced an immediate cessation of fuel supplies to US military forces operating in Norway. This decision is reportedly linked to the recent contentious meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday.
In its statement, Haltbakk Bunkers expressed strong disapproval of the actions taken by US leadership, declaring on social media, “Today we have witnessed the greatest ‘sht show’ ever presented live on television, by the current American president and his vice president.” The firm praised President Zelenskyy for his composed response during what it described as a “‘sht show’,” adding that the situation had left them feeling ill. In light of these sentiments, the company declared, “As a result, we have decided to immediately STOP providing fuel to American forces in Norway and their ships calling Norwegian ports.”
This bold announcement followed the deletion of the original post, which was attributed to a surge of traffic to the company’s social media page following the controversial remarks. Additionally, Gunnar Gran, the owner and CEO of Haltbakk Bunkers, further reinforced the company’s position in an interview with the Norwegian publication Kystens, asserting, “Not a litre will be delivered until Trump is finished.” Gran appealed to fellow Norwegians and Europeans to join in the boycott, citing the substantial impact of the war in Ukraine on many of the company’s Ukrainian employees and their families, stating, “We support Ukraine.”
Despite Haltbakk Bunkers’ decision, the Norwegian government has not taken any formal steps regarding fuel supplies. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre acknowledged the brief duration of Trump’s presidency but indicated the necessity of understanding the broader implications of his administration’s actions, saying, “We now have five to six weeks of Trump as president.”
The suspension of fuel supplies has incited discussions about the roles and ethical responsibilities of businesses in the context of international tensions. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik reassured both domestic and international audiences that the US military in Norway would continue to receive complete logistical support, asserting that “the US and Norway maintain a close and strong defense cooperation” and that American forces would secure the supplies and support they require.
Haltbakk Bunkers had previously halted transactions with Russian companies following the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which resulted in considerable revenue loss for the company. Gran reflected on this decision by stating, “We lost a lot of revenue. But we have a moral compass,” further stressing that the current exclusion of the United States was predicated on their conduct towards Ukraine. “We choose our customers,” he concluded.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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