Odd Roger Enoksen

Having an agronomist education,[1] Enoksen previously worked as a farmer, as well as running a business for peat products.[2]

He was first elected as deputy representative to the Storting in 1989, after a career in local politics. He was elected ordinary representative to the Storting from 1993 until 2005.[2]

Following a cabinet reshuffle on 16 March 1999, Enoksen was appointed Minister of Local Government and Regional Development in Kjell Magne Bondevik's first cabinet.[2] On 8 October, he was also appointed deputy to the prime minister. He held both positions until 17 March 2000, when the government resigned following issues of gas power stations.

Enoksen became deputy leader of his party in 1997, and following the retirement of Anne Enger Lahnstein in 1999, he became party leader. Åslaug Haga replaced him in 2003.[3]

When the Red-Green Coalition in 2005 formed the first majority government in Norway since 1985, Enoksen became the Minister of Petroleum and Energy. He held the position until 2007 when he left Jens Stoltenberg's Cabinet and was replaced by Åslaug Haga. He said he wanted to focus on his family as a main reason for his departure.[4][5]

Enoksen signs an agreement increasing cooperation between US and Norwegian Special Operations Forces with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Washington in 2021

On 14 October 2021, Enoksen was appointed minister of defence in Støre's Cabinet.[6]

Upon assuming office, Enoksen was faced with the issue of his native hometown, Andøya's Air Station being closed down and fighter jets moved to Evenes Air Station. However, further issues at the latter air station were also revealed, notably de-icing pollution and a higher price cost for the move long term.[7]

Enoksen defended Støre’s prospect of sending observers to the summit on a nuclear ban in Vienna in early 2022, saying that Norway would “listen to what goes on within the treaty work”, and specified it was in no way a breach of NATO’s view. He also acknowledged that Norway’s action could be faced with criticism within NATO.[8]

After NATO expelled several Russian diplomats alleged to be spies, Enoksen expressed hope to mend relations with Russia. He further stressed the importance of Norway having a regional role in the north, but also manding the relations with Russia and having dialog. Enoksen also emphasised that the United States would continue to be a close ally and said "there should be no doubt" about it.[9]

Enoksen attended a NATO Ministers of Defence summit between 21 and 22 October in Brussels. Following the meeting, he confirmed that other member states expressed concern that other countries might follow Norway’s lead. He also said that some members expressed support for Norway’s lead. Despite Enoksen reassuring that Norway’s plan to send observers wouldn’t breach NATO’s view on a nuclear ban, the Conservative Party’s Ine Eriksen Søreide, reiterated the contrary that it would in fact do exactly that.[10]

Ahead of the revised state budget, Enoksen announced that 50 million NOK would be spent on bettering living conditions in living quarters within the Army. He did however note that it was up to the Chief of Defence to decide what the money would be spent on.[11]

On 16 November, Enoksen met U. S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at The Pentagon, where they discussed the security situation in the North. They also signed a road map for further development cooperation between their armed forces. Enoksen expressed to the press that they were to be expecting that Russia would continue to test and develop weapon systems up North.[12]

In early December, after making a statement where he called the immigration situation at the Polish-Belarusian border for “not acceptable use of resources”, Enoksen was criticised by the Conservative Party’s defence policy spokesperson Hårek Elvenes. He questioned Enoksen if the government took a different stance then the European Union, United States and an allied country. Enoksen emphasised: “Norway is, of course, behind our allies. But we as a nation must also have our own opinion on the ways in which our allies react, and whether this is within what we think is acceptable or not”. He also stressed that his statement was related to one specific event.[13]

Since 2005 Enoksen has been the Managing Director of Andøya Rocket Range.[2]