Newsletter: Preparedness, Great Power Politics and Industry

"Since the start of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine in particular, we have strengthened our support to Nordic allies and partners. We aim to be capable of rapid integration in an allied operation which can take place in the High North," says Commander Jean-Michel Pimbert of the French frigate FS Bretagne. (Photo: Astri Edvardsen)

Published at: Jan 28 2024 - 18:26 / Updated at: Jan 28 2024 - 18:30

Dear reader. Next week, the Arctic convenes in Northern Norway, with preparedness and security on the agenda, among other things. It is time to discard the district policy as a measure in the North, believes Editor Arne O. Holm. And the sanctions against Russia have not put a stop to Russian gas.

Text Trine Jonassen

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Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre is coming to Tromsø and the Arctic Frontiers with a selection of ministers. The US, Canada, Sweden, and Finland will participate in the conference with both military and political leaders and experts.

High North News will also be present in Tromsø next week, and Editor Arne O. Holm will participate in an EU debate on Monday i.a.

Preparedness will also be a topic during next week's debates, and Holm believes it is time to discard district policy as a measure in the North.

"As international tension increases in the North, national responsibility is weakened," writes Holm in this week's commentary.

Industrial news

Fresh funds are flowing into the industry in the North.

Freyr Battery in Northern Norway was recently awarded NOK 8,8 million from the Research Council of Norway.

The steel company H2 Green Steel has secured debt financing of SEK 48 billion for what could be the world's first large-scale green steel plant in Boden, Northern Sweden.

The EU Commission is awarding EUR 54 million to several Swedish infrastructure projects, including the Iron Ore Line. (Norwegian only)

We can also report that US sanctions have not yet halted the construction of Russian gas producer Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 project.

The week did not pass without some drama in the sector.

At last Friday's extraordinary general meeting in Mo Industrial Park, Helgeland Industriutvikling was dramatically removed from the board by the other owners. (Norwegian only)

Defense and climate

A new Danish defense agreement allocates $400 million for long-range drones to increase Arctic and North Atlantic surveillance.

In January, the French frigate Bretagne is patrolling northern waters.

"We are here to strengthen NATO's deterrent posture in the High North," says Captain Jean-Michel Pimbert to HNN's journalist Astri Edvardsen as she toured the frigate while docked in Bodø. (Norwegian only)

Read about this and more at High North News. Feel free to join the debate on social media.

I wish you a good weekend on behalf of the editorial staff, and perhaps we will see you in Tromsø?

Best, Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen

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