Norway opens Qatar embassy, closes Malawi mission in foreign service review

Norway will open an embassy in Qatar and close its embassy in Malawi by end-2027 as part of a foreign service review. Foreign Minister Eide frames the move as adapting to the most serious security situation since WWII, signaling a pivot toward Gulf engagement. The closure in Malawi reflects a strategic reallocation of diplomatic resources, though the specific rationale for choosing Qatar over Malawi is not detailed.