Norwegian Company Halts Fuel Supply to U.S. Navy Citing Ethical Concerns

Norwegian fuel supplier Haltbakk Bunkers has announced its decision to cease refueling U.S. Navy ships, citing concerns over recent diplomatic tensions between Washington and Kyiv.

The company, a major player in Norway’s maritime fuel industry, stated that it would no longer provide fuel to American military vessels until there is a shift in the current U.S. administration’s approach.

The announcement was made via a statement on Haltbakk Bunkers’ official social media account, where company owner Gunnar Gran criticized the handling of a recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on February 28. The company described the meeting as “a spectacle” and commended Zelenskyy for maintaining composure during the discussions.

According to Gran, Haltbakk Bunkers had previously halted fuel sales to Russian entities following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He emphasized that the company’s stance was based on ethical considerations rather than commercial interests. “We lost significant revenue when we stopped selling to Russia, while some of our competitors benefited. However, we have a moral compass. Now, the U.S. is excluded due to its actions towards Ukraine,” Gran stated.

Haltbakk Bunkers is a subsidiary of Haltbakk Group, which operates a fleet of fuel tankers and provides bunkering services across Norway and internationally. The company confirmed that the suspension of fuel sales to the U.S. military took immediate effect and urged other Norwegian and European fuel suppliers to consider a similar position.

In response to the company’s decision, Norwegian Defense Minister Tore Sandvik reaffirmed Norway’s commitment to supporting U.S. military operations. In a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, Sandvik emphasized that the Norwegian government continues to provide all requested logistical support to the U.S. Navy, underscoring the strong defense cooperation between the two countries.

While acknowledging that Haltbakk Bunkers’ fuel supply volumes to the U.S. Navy were limited, Gran stated that the move was intended as a symbolic gesture of support for Ukraine rather than a measure expected to have a significant operational impact. He also noted that the company employs Ukrainian staff and has witnessed firsthand the humanitarian consequences of the war.

Despite the private company’s decision, Norwegian officials have assured that all necessary provisions for the U.S. Navy in Norwegian ports remain unaffected.