Foreign Policy in a Time of Turmoil

Contributor(s): Børge Brende | We live in a world of unprecedented progress and unexpected crises. We have to adapt to a changing security landscape, while at the same time maintaining the pillars of peace and prosperity: democracy, cooperation and respect for international law. Following agreed rules of behaviour brings benefits to all nations - a win-win situation. But we must take into account that not all leaders have taken this on board yet. Børge Brende (@borgebrende) is Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway. He started his political career in 1985 as political adviser with the Young Conservatives. He has been Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party (1994–1998) and a member of the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) for more than 10 years. From 2001 to 2004, he was Minister of the Environment. He was Minister of Trade and Industry from 2004 to 2005. In 2008, Mr Brende was appointed as Managing Director of the World Economic Forum in Geneva. He was Secretary General of Red Cross Norway from 2009 to 2011, before returning to the World Economic Forum in 2011. Mr Brende was Chair of the UN Commission of Sustainable Development in 2003–2004 and member of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (advisory body to the Chinese Government) from 2005 to 2013. He has also been Chair of the Board in Mesta, Norway’s largest onshore contracting group, and Member of the Board in Statoil. Mr Brende has a degree in Economics, Law and History from NTNU in Trondheim. Credits: Tom Sturdy (Audio Post-Production), LSE AV Services (Audio Recording).