Newsletter: Life In Borderland
The security situation in the North and the strategic importance of the High North were the main topics when NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and his team visited the Coast Guard vessel KV Svalbard in Ramsund, Northern Norway, hosted by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. This coast guard vessel has icebreaking capacity and travels extensively in the sea areas around Svalbard and up to the North Pole. (Photo: NATO)
Kirkenes, Northern Norway: Dear reader. "The High North is Norway's most important strategic investment area," chanted the authorities. But the people clinging on to maintain a settlement on the border with Russia's nuclear weapons do not see any signs of that.
This week, Commentator Arne O. Holm and I participated in the Kirkenes Conference in the municipality bordering Russia in the North. Or East, we should say. Kirkenes is located at 70,3 degrees North and is as far East as Istanbul or Kairo.
Empty streets, a fair share of dark shop windows, and politicians practically begging for help characterize the border city.
Because High North politics is not like other politics.
The Norwegian Prime Minister, Fisheries Minister, and the Nordic Chiefs of Defense participated in the crammed conference, together with ambassadors and Northern Norwegian politicians.
Whether it helps the municipality that functions as the Norwegian government's sovereignty alibi against Russia remains to be seen.
"The crisis is real," says Finnmark's County Mayor, Hans-Jacob Bønå. (Norwegian only)
"This week, the chance of meeting a Chief of Defense or a Norwegian Minister was high. That is, if you were in the North", Holm writes in one of two comments this week.
On Thursday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte traveled to military bases in Northern Norway. High North News was present and you can read about that here (Norwegian only).
Gas and Svalbard
New government figures highlight the Arctic's critical role in Russia's economy.
This year, 100 years have passed since Svalbard became part of Norway. But the celebrant is still highly relevant. I was there when the Norwegian government celebrated the day.
DOGE and derailment
The reason behind the extensive Iron Ore Line derailment in Sweden, which led to a two-month traffic stop, has been found. (Norwegian only)
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Arctic greetings from Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen