Newsletter: A Break From the Madness
The Arctic football team Bodø/Glimt beat Manchester City in the Champions League match 19 January. (Photo: Hilde Bye)
Dear reader. While Donald Trump is wreaking havoc on NATO and the Nordic region, the Northern Norwegian football club Bodø/Glimt provided a much-needed break from great-power politics and threats.
In the shadow of Trump's many and erratic statements, the war still rages on in Ukraine, and Russia is still sanctioned. It is just not talked about as much.
In fact, Europe keeps buying Russian fuel without any noticeable slowdown, with less than 12 months remaining before an EU ban on the import of Russian LNG takes effect.
Germany has taken the unprecedented step of barring a notorious “zombie tanker” from its Baltic waters after uncovering forged registration and serious safety concerns.
Greenland
Still, Greenland is the focus of the press, and there is a lot of meeting activity to stop the American president.
Last week, the Danish foreign minister and his Greenlandic counterpart met with the US Secretary of State and the US Vice President in Washington, D.C. In addition, several American senators traveled to Copenhagen.
People have gathered to protest, apparently to no avail.
Hundreds of US scientists who have worked on Greenland have signed a letter rejecting US President Donald Trump's push for control over the island.
This makes our Commentator, Arne O. Holm, wonder how the conflict impacts Svalbard.
Defense
The conflict with the US ties Europe closer together.
Our journalist Astri Edvardsen met Yvette Cooper in the Norwegian Arctic together with Norway's foreign minister.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also highlights unity and says the seven Arctic countries in NATO have long been working on an Arctic strategy.
A football break
On Tuesday, history was made in the small city of Bodø, north of the Arctic Circle, as Bodø/Glimt became the first Arctic team to beat Manchester City in the Champions League.
Journalist Hilde Bye and Holm were present to cover the match, giving us a break from great power politics, at least for a little while.
"With this historic football victory, Bodø/Glimt managed to chase Donald Trump out of the headlines for a while. That is something they are quite alone in doing," writes Holm. (Norwegian only)
I would also like to welcome newly graduated journalist Linn-Merete Ophaug to our editorial staff. She will be with us for a few months and will be covering life in the Arctic. Feel free to send her tips here.
Arctic greetings from Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen