Norwegian fuel supplier refuses US warships over Ukraine

Haltbakk Bunkers has immediately stopped refuelling US Navy ships following the Trump-Zelensky clash at the Oval Office, urging other Europeans suppliers to follow with similar bans.

One of the first casualties of the ban may have been USS Delaware, a Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine. Picture: Ashley Cowan

Haltbakk Bunkers, one of Norway’s biggest fuel suppliers has immediately stopped refuelling US Navy ships because of the “s..tshow” at the White House on Friday.

One of the first casualties of the snap decision, taken by the company’s owner Gunnar Gran, may have been USS Delaware, a Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine, which was unable to refuel on Saturday and is positioned off the Norwegian coast, local media is reporting.

Haltbakk Bunkers called on other European fuel suppliers to follow with similar bans, which could cause disruption to the US military and underline increasing tension between Washington and European leaders.

The company said following “the biggest shitshow ever presented live on TV by the current American president and his vice president” they have decided to immediately stop providing fuel to US Navy Ships and other American Forces in Norway. “It made us sick. Short and sweet” the company said, while praising Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for his calm and restraint in the face of such “backstabbing”.

Gran later told Kystens Næringsliv: “Not a litre of fuel will be delivered until Trump is finished.”

Mr Gran also told Kystens Næringsliv that his company had previously banned fuel sales to Russian entities costing him “a lot of revenue”. “But we have a moral compass,’’ he said, adding, “now the United States is excluded based on their behaviour towards the Ukrainians”.

However Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik moved to reassure the United States that the US military forces would continue to receive full support from Norway.

“The US and Norway maintain a close and strong defence cooperation. American forces will continue to receive the supply and support they require,” he said.