Norway’s $2.3tn sovereign wealth fund faces a growing ethical dilemma: can it remain a moral investor while holding massive stakes in US tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft? The fund recently sold Caterpillar over its alleged role in Palestinian property destruction, sparking US political backlash. Now, a review warns it may be forced to exclude the big four tech firms over their Israel-related sales. Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg convened an expert group to balance ethics with wealth preservation.
The group controversially recommended allowing investments in nuclear weapons producers like Boeing and Lockheed Martin, drawing both criticism and support. The fund’s size—four times Norway’s GDP—means every decision is scrutinized globally. As it grows, its ethical stance increasingly clashes with geopolitical realities.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing