U.S. President Barack Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday, defending his policy of engagement with oppressive governments and the escalation of the American war effort in Afghanistan.
"Those who seek peace cannot stand idly by when nations arms themselves for war," Obama said after being presented with the Nobel Prize by Thorbjørn Jagland, Chairman of the Nobel Committee.
Referring specifically to Iran and North Korea and their pursuit of nuclear weapons, Obama said that oppressive regimes that break international rules must pay the price.
Obama, who leads a nation fighting two wars in the Middle East, has been a controversial choice for the award. Some have called the honor "premature," given that the president has been in office less than a year.
He is the third sitting U.S. President to be honored with the Peace Prize, joining Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, while former president Jimmy Carter received the award after leaving office.
It was announced in October that Obama would receive the prize for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples."
The president, with First Lady Michele Obama and other family members in the front row at Oslo's City Hall, appeared humbled by the honor.
"Compared to some of the giants of history who have received this prize - Schweitzer and King; Marshall and Mandela - my accomplishments are slight," Obama acknowledged.
He added, "And then there are the men and women around the world who have been jailed and beaten in the pursuit of justice... I cannot argue with those who find these men and women - some known, some obscure to all but those they help - to be far more deserving of this honor than I."
Obama addressed critics of his willingness to talk with oppressive regimes, pointing out that Richard Nixon's historic visit to China was regarded as "inexcusable" at the time but helped millions of Chinese citizens emerge from poverty and connect to open societies.
He also pointed out that Ronald Reagan's efforts in arms control strengthened relations with the Soviet Union and "empowered dissidents throughout Eastern Europe" during the Cold War.
Earlier, delivering the presentation speech, Jagland said that Obama's diplomacy rests on the idea that whoever is to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population. He compared Obama to earlier American presidents - Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan - who were seen as world leaders outside the U.S.
The chairman said that Obama understands that even the mightiest are vulnerable when they stand alone.
He added that Obama's ideals coincided with the ideals underpinning the activities of the Nobel Committee, including advancing democracy and human rights, reducing the amount of nuclear arms and adopting effective measures to meet the climate threat.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.