Newsletter: A New Year With the World's Eyes on the Arctic
Mount Sermitsiaq in Nuup Kangerlua, Greenland, on a cold November morning. (Photo: Birgitte Annie Hansen)
Dear reader. The year 2026 started with a bang, and even we who cover the High North are struggling to keep up with the sudden geopolitical developments. In fact, we find ourselves in a place that is a bit too reminiscent of a fateful February four years ago.
The holiday peace never had time to descend upon the world before the USA's rabid president threatened to invade Venezuela. The rest is recent history, and we have long since stopped laughing at Trump's statement. It has proved to be a dangerous attitude.
As of today, and that could easily change, Donald Trump's obsession with Greenland has entered a dangerous new phase, in which the White House is actively developing acquisition plans for the world's largest island, calling it a "national security priority."
Our Commentator Arne O. Holm does not think diplomatic language deters anymore.
"Our closest ally is to be deterred by military power," he writes in this year's first comment.
This is extra complicated as European countries still refer to the US as our 'closest ally'.
For example, the US Coast Guard has signed a contract with Finnish Rauma Marine Constructions and American Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana on the construction of six Arctic Security Cutters.
And Norway took over the leadership of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) after Finland on January 1st. A cooperation that perhaps has never been more important than now.
With all the focus on Greenland and Trump, Russia is literally sailing under the radar.
Trump's aggression toward Greenland has also led to questions about Svalbard's security. Next week, Holm will report directly from the polar island.
Happy New Year from Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen