On Wednesday, the chairmanship of Sør-Varanger Municipality in Northern Norway decided to recommend the municipal council terminate the friendship agreement with Severomorsk in Northwest Russia. This is a closed military city that functions as the main base for the Russian Northern Fleet.

Harald G. Sunde (Socialist Left) promoted the suggestion of terminating the agreement for security reasons. This was adopted as five representatives from the Socialist Left, the Conservative Party, and the Center, voted in favor, while four representatives (Labor) voted against.

The chairmanship was originally going to assess whether the agreement is legally valid, which the municipal director finds that it is.

The municipal council will process the case on the 26th of April.

Sør-Varanger's friendship agreements with Severomorsk and Pechenga have long been paused in light of Russia's war against Ukraine. In November, the municipal council decided to keep the two agreements with the continued suspension of cooperation.