Newsletter Deterrence and Doubt

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Right now, around 2,500 soldiers from ten NATO nations have begun a highly relevant air and missile defense exercise at Andøya, Northern Norway, led by the USA. At the same time, Donald Trump sows doubt about whether he will participate in the NATO summit in June. 

In an exclusive opinion piece from Michael Sfraga, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, he says is in America’s best interest to reinforce and strengthen the alignment to NATO, “despite the current U.S. administration’s skepticism of the Alliance”. 

In his latest column, editor and commentator Arne O. Holm says the demand for analyses of the security policy situation is enormous. 

“Everyone wants to know what is happening, not least in the Arctic and High North. But the experts who are supposed to inform us about the future in a war-ridden Europe are practically stumbling in the dark.” 

Gwich’in Council International – a nonprofit organization that represents the Gwich'in people of Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territory to the Arctic Council - calls on the USA to refrain from threatening the annexation of Canada as the “51st State, as well as Greenland. 

Science for democracy 

Research journalist Birgitte Annie Hansen met with Arctic researcher Charlotte Gehrke, who sees science communication as a democratic project, particularly in the current political and environmental situation. 

The melting of permafrost in the Arctic leads to a plethora of unwanted consequences, and there is an urgent need for action, says Hassan Alzain at Yale University. 

"Waiting until permafrost thaws is a visible emergency, it will already be too late.” 

Gas and cooperation

After years of debate, the European Commission aims to ban Russian gas by the end of 2027. Meanwhile, Norway solidly remains the largest supplier, providing nearly one-third of EU gas. 

The Nordic countries and Europe are increasingly entering into new and closer collaborations. 

Finland has started planning a future railway connection stretching from northern Finland to Narvik in Northern Norway. 

This week, ministers from Italy visited Northern Norway with Norway's Minister of Trade to strengthen cooperation on space operations and critical raw materials. (Norwegian only) 

Next week, Denmark takes over the Arctic Council chairship after Norway has led it for two years. Russia's participation is still limited, and there is great tension about whether Trump will throw a spanner in the works of the council's future.

Holm and journalist Astri Edvardsen are in Tromsø and will report directly from the session on May 12th.  

So stay tuned! 

Arctic greetings from Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen