What's wrong with Norway is what's wrong with most of "Old Europe" -- they've fallen in love with their Socialist and Center-Left welfare state. What happens in 40-50 years when the North Sea oil reserves (and revenues) begin to run out? Will they want that strong alliance with America again?
Yes, and unfortunately when the center-right parties do manage to win elections in Old Europe (setting France aside) these days, it seems to be only by the narrowist of margins, as most of the population leans to the left or green.
However, the center-right parties throughout Europe (again, setting France aside) do understand and value the relationship with the US and NATO.
This has been true not only for Norway (which in fact has historically been one of the strongest supporters of NATO and was the only NATO country that actually shared a border with the Soviets), but also for Anzar in Spain, Berlusconi in Italy, Merkel in Germany, etc.
The problem is that while the center-right parties themselves understand the importance of the American relationship and NATO, they have nevertheless lost the battle for public opinion on this point in their various countries, especially among younger people and students brainwashed by the leftwing media and university teachers. So the center-right does what it can within the constraints of public opinion.
Assuming, of course, there is an America left in 40-50 years. They might be dealing with "Republica del Norte" if things keep going the way they're going.....
"What happens in 40-50 years when the North Sea oil reserves (and revenues) begin to run out? Will they want that strong alliance with America again?
What happens in 10-15 years when oil is not nearly the valuable commodity it is now and Mooslims are overrrunning their backboneless country? Sorry Bjorn, you blew it.
Their fields are already in rapid depletion, along with their income.
The oil revenues are more than likely, millenial. (In fact, huge reserves are known and untouched, and many other areas look promising.) The cash the oil and gas generate is not.
The model is Saudi Arabia, in which the cash generated a population explosion, which no amount of oil revenue can afford to support in socialistic luxury. While I do not expect a Norwegian population explosion, their immigrant population, mostly Muslim, is growing by leaps and bounds. Not being culturally given to enthusiastic labor, these folks will demand the same gravy train as received by Norwegian Norwegians. That'll bust'em!
I definitely recommend that the Norwegian Royal Family lead the nation in demanding an entrance exam for all Muslims ... part of which is to consist of eating pork roast, rye crackers and lutefisk, and washing it all down with Akvavit. Survivors who then accept Lutheran doctrines, may be eligible to apply for residency, if good looking enough.