The article aims to explain why, despite not having joined as a member of the European integration process, Norway has decided to strengthen cooperation with the European Union on issues related to post-Cold War international security. The central argument indicates that, though the state shares a set of values and principles with the bloc’s member countries, the preservation of autonomy in relation to other European countries was one of the consolidated elements in the construction of its international identity. However, given the challenges to international security after the end of the bipolar world, Norway has shown interest in
cooperating more with the bloc, but this has not changed substantially its Atlanticist identity in the security area.