Newsletter Close Defense Ties
These are unusual times in the High North. Also according to the weather. This September evening in Bodø, Northern Norway, the thermometer showed over 20 degrees. A tropical night in what is usually an autumn month in the Arctic. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
Dear reader. Norway keeps facilitating Russian gas, while the world's largest aircraft carrier is once again sailing along the coast of Norway. Here is the latest news from the North.
High North News has followed the ongoing relocation of the city of Kiruna in Northern Sweden, which has now reached a critical point at which the mining company and the municipality ask the state for significant financial support and release of a larger area for the mining operations to continue.
We will continue following the case.
Now, a short detour to South Korea, which has announced substantial budget increases to support the expansion of the port of Busan, readying it for future Arctic traffic and subsidizing domestic construction of ice-class ships.
Russia and defense
Over to Northern Norway, where Norwegian authorities continue to facilitate Russian liquefied natural gas, as carriers continue to use Norway’s Arctic fjords as convenient stopover points, exchanging crews and taking on provisions.
At the same time, the world's largest aircraft carrier is once again sailing along the coast of Norway.
“The voyage into a fjord usually filled with cruise boats and pleasure yachts is also a story about us placing our faith in the hands of a president with dramatically different values from ours”, writes commentator Arne O. Holm in his weekly column.
Even if Donald Trump has created uncertainty around the US security guarantee, the practical defense cooperation with the Americans is stable, says the Chief of the Norwegian Army to journalist Astri Edvardsen.
A visible proof is the successful test of a new precision weapon on a maritime target off the coast of Northern Norway, conducted by American and Norwegian forces.
Energy and policy
New research shows that the case for solar energy in the Far North could be stronger than previously thought.
For the next four years, the Danish government will allocate DKK 1,6 billion for initiatives and investments in Greenland, including investments in ports and healthcare.
Read about this and more at High North News and follow along for exciting news about security policy in the Arctic in the coming days.
Arctic greetings from Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen