Norwegian shipowners have been told to brace themselves for the new geopolitical normal.

The potential for a second stint for Donald Trump in the White House, the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, tensions between China and Taiwan, and the threat of trade wars were all discussed at the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association annual conference on Thursday.

“We have to think a bit differently about areas where we, especially in the past, have been used to having almost only progress,” said Ine Eriksen Soreide during a panel discussion on geopolitics.