Politics "Sweden Must Take Responsibility for Its Own Security" Bodø (High North News): Major Johan Hellström is clear that Sweden must build up its total defense and prepare for a NATO without the US.
Arne O. Holm says From Florida to Finnmark, From the Courtroom to the White House Commentary: In the daytime, he hangs around in American courtrooms. In his free time, he sells jewelry, shoes, and Bibles to finance fines and lawyers. In about six months, Donald Trump is let loose on the rest of the world.
Newsletter NATO's March Into the North Dear reader. This week, several tonnes of American military materials arrived in Narvik and will roll over the border from Norway into the new NATO countries. The US will soon present its new Arctic strategy, and a Swedish major asks the Nordics to build their own preparedness without NATO. We also have news about sanctions and life in the North.
Politics / 19.04.2024 New visit from US nuclear-powered submarine on Iceland The nuclear-powered submarine USS New Hampshire is currently operating…
Science / 17.04.2024 The Third EA International Conference Is Currently Held in Tromsø The 3rd International Conference on the Ecosystem Approach to Management…
Life in the Arctic / 16.04.2024 Nominations Open For the 2024 Frederik Paulsen Award The Frederik Paulsen Arctic Academic Action Award celebrates action…
Politics / 10.04.2024 The Nordic Council Gathers in the Faroe Islands The Nordic Council recently held its annual Theme Session on 8 and 9 April…
Politics Germany Supports Swedish Push for EU Ban of Russian LNG Just days after Swedish calls to sanction imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, German government officials confirmed their support for an EU-wide ban. The measures could be included in the upcoming 14th sanctions package, but could face resistance from Spain, Belgium and France.
Politics Russia Reduces LNG Forecasts As Western Sanctions Delay Arctic Projects The latest Russian forecasts for liquefied natural gas suggest that officials do not expect Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project to reach full capacity before 2026, even in the most optimistic scenario. In two more conservative scenarios the Ministry of the Economy does not expect Train 2 of Arctic LNG 2 to begin production before 2028.
Politics Norwegian MoD Stresses Importance of Enough People in Northern Norway Bodø (High North News): The Norwegian government wants to strengthen defense in the far north and establish the Finnmark Brigade. According to the MoD, securing settlement in this region is high on the agenda. "If things get really serious, we are dependent on civilian society and the function of total defense," he says.
Arne O. Holm says From Florida to Finnmark, From the Courtroom to the White House Commentary: In the daytime, he hangs around in American courtrooms. In his free time…
Debate Uniting For Women's Right to Bodily Autonomy: It is About Decolonization "The IUD cases, and the cases concerning other forms of contraception, as well as the…
Op-ed Gender Equality is Back on the Arctic Agenda - This Time For Good? Debate: "This week gender equality has gained visibility as an explicit part of…
Opinions Boundaries of the Ego vs Rational Boundaries in the Barents Sea Researcher Eda Ayaydin highlights three critical fractions in the interactions…
Politics Sweden Calls for Ban of Russian LNG Ahead of EU Meeting The EU continues to inch toward a comprehensive ban of Russian liquefied natural gas. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom confirmed the need to include LNG in the upcoming 14th sanctions package against Russia.
Politics The Norwegian Government Agrees With Opposing Parties On New Fisheries Policy The Norwegian government parties have agreed with the opposing parties on the quota white paper. "The Labor and Center Party are throwing away a historic opportunity to bring the fish back to the people and create workplaces in coastal fisheries and fish processing in the land industry," says Red Party fishery policy spokesperson Geir Jørgensen.
Arne O. Holm says The Arctic Arms Race Extends Beyond Military Power Commentary: The proposal of an extensive rearmament of the Navy in the North is not just about military capacity. It is just as much about the security policy approach to Russia and who will keep their hands on the wheel in the Arctic.
Practicing Norway’s Role as a Transit Country for Allied Forces Going to Sweden and Finland Apr 22 2024 - 17:57
Arctic living Life on the Arctic Coast: The Sea Route to Kindergarten Helligvær (High North News): Out in the middle of the sea in Northern Norway, we find Løvetanna kindergarten with its three employees and six children, two of whom have an unusual route to kindergarten.
Politics Practicing Norway’s Role as a Transit Country for Allied Forces Going to Sweden and Finland This week, a US ship with military personnel will arrive in Narvik, Northern Norway, in connection with the military exercise Immediate Response 2024. Several hundred American vehicles and containers will be unloaded in the Port of Narvik to be further transported via Sweden to an exercise in Finland.
Politics Norway’s Navy Chief: ‘High North, Low Tension’ Depends on Our Own Capability At Sea Norway’s government recently launched major investments in the country's naval forces. This will increase important Norwegian presence in the North vis-á-vis Russia, maintains Navy Chief Oliver Berdal. “We must be able to safeguard our maritime interests on an independent basis,” he says.
Newsletter A Delicate Balance Dear reader. We are taking a closer look at the long-term plan for the Norwegian Armed Forces and what it entails for Norway's relationship with Russia. In addition, we have news from a Northern Norwegian archipelago, sanctions against Russia, and industry. Here is the week as seen from the North.
Arctic living Life on the Arctic Coast: In This Archipelago, Community Is the Most Important Preparedness Resource Helligvær (High North News): On the island of Helligvær in Northern Norway, one of the most valuable resources is community. The islanders trust each other, which is reflected in their preparedness plans.
Science Russia's Activity in the North Has Changed: "Fewer Civilian Disturbances" The Russian activity pattern in the North has changed since February 24th, 2022, believes a Senior Research Fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.
Arctic living Norwegian-Russian Irina Collaborates with Arctic Philharmonic to Create Sami and Kven Children's Music Bodø (High North News): The Arctic Philharmonic is investing in Sami and Kven music. Norwegian-Russian Irina Girunyan is part of the initiative and will compose a piece for children. "It feels very right."
Arctic Living First Sami Film Premieres on Netflix: "I Am Nervous" For the first time, the streaming service Netflix is showing an original production from Sápmi. Stolen is based on Ann-Helén Laestadius' critically acclaimed book of the same name and premiered on Friday.
Arne O. Holm says In this Giant Meeting Hall, Donald Trump is the Elephant in the Room Anchorage, Alaska (High North News): I entered the year saying I would spend more time discussing with people who disagree with me. Therefore, what could be more natural than traveling to the Republican stronghold of Alaska?
Politics Wants Investment in Critical Infrastructure in Narvik: A Double track on the Ofoten Line Must Be Prioritized The governing parties in Nordland County Council in Northern Norway wants increased investments in critical infrastructure in Narvik and Ofoten and encourages the government and parliament to prioritize a double track on the Ofoten Railway.
Politics EU Parliament Approves Rules for National Bans of Russian LNG, Fails to Address Transshipments EU institutions took another step to phasing out the import of Russian liquefied natural gas. The EU Parliament has put in place rules allowing member states to restrict imports. But to what degree countries will make use of the new rules remains uncertain.