Why the U.S. is turning to Norway when it wants to understand Putin

BODO, Norway — Sitting between Russian’s aggressive behavior and NATO’s attempt to rein it in is Norway, a key U.S. ally that often serves as a bridge between the two groups.

Because of the close relationship that has developed, Norway can provide a window into Russia’s motivations and world view that is “worth gold” to the U.S. as it tries to understand the nuances of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions, according to a senior U.S. defense official.