POLITICS EU Council Agrees on Framework for Phaseout of Russian LNG by 2028 The European Union continues to inch toward a full ban of Russian gas. On Monday the Council of the EU agreed on the framework for the draft legislation which will now be further negotiated with the Parliament and Commission.
Arne O. Holm says Locked Up in Washington, Murkowski Gave an Almost Absurd Insight Into American Madness Reykjavik (Comment): A deeply affected US Senator, Lisa Murkowski, spoke via videolink to 2,000 participants at the international Arctic Circle conference here in Reykjavik yesterday. She was supposed to be on stage, but instead showcased an involuntary digital demonstration of the madness of US politics.
POLITICS The Norwegian Government Proposes Defense Budget Increase of NOK 4,2 Billion in 2026 With the proposed increase, Norway will spend NOK 112 billion on national defense in 2026. In Northern Norway, there are i.a. plans for investments in property, buildings, and facilities of about NOK 3,2 billion.
BUSINESS / 02.10.2025 ConocoPhillips Sends Layoff Notifications to North Slope Workers ConocoPhillips confirmed on Wednesday that it has begun sending layoff…
POLITICS / 02.10.2025 Wants Greenland to Invest in Data Centers Jørgen Rosbach (Demokraatit), member of the Greenlandic parliament …
SCIENCE / 02.10.2025 New Research Project to Explore the Nordic Region and Critical Minerals A new NordForsk-funded research project will examine how the Nordic…
Science / 30.09.2025 Polar Bears Colonize Abandoned Russian Research Station A remote, decades-abandoned Russian polar research station in the Chukot…
POLITICS “The Arctic Council is Irreplaceable” Reykjavik (High North News): “Projects are being discussed, new activities are being initiated. The Arctic Council is still alive and very much kicking,” says Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council.
POLITICS Arctic Security Expert: “Putin is Testing NATO” Reykjavik (High North News): “It’s all a competition at this stage, designed to figure out what our tolerance is. We don't often project an image of strength that is really important when we're interacting with Russia and China”, says Canadian Defense Expert P. Whitney Lackenbauer.
Politics Prime Minister of Iceland: “We Better Control What's Happening in Our Own Backyard” Reykjavik (High North News): “We can't just sit back and say we want this to be a risk-free, neutral zone, and whatever happens, happens”, says the Prime Minister of Iceland, Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir, who have been in office for only nine months.
POLITICS EU Council Agrees on Framework for Phaseout of Russian LNG by 2028 The European Union continues to inch toward a full ban of Russian gas. On Monday the…
10.09.2025 Deepening Russia-China Relations Continue to Drive Oil, Gas, and Container Traffic Along Arctic Shipping Lane
05.08.2025 French Shipyard Halts Service for Russian LNG Fleet, Leaving Danish Yard as Sole Western Provider
POLITICS UK Sanctions Target Russian Arctic LNG, With US Remaining on Sideline and EU Continuing Debate The UK increased pressure on Moscow with sanctions against major Russian oil…
POLITICS EU Imports of Russian Gas Grow Again, Including LNG, Contrasting with Brussels Latest Efforts to Phase Out Supplies European Union countries spent 30 percent more on Russian gas during the first half…
POLITICS “Time to Turn off the Tap” on Russian LNG Says EU After Trump Pressure Trump's comments trigger renewed efforts by Brussels to phase out Russian liquefied…
POLITICS UK Sanctions Target Russian Arctic LNG, With US Remaining on Sideline and EU Continuing Debate The UK increased pressure on Moscow with sanctions against major Russian oil companies, 44 shadow fleet vessels, and a Chinese gas import terminal. The impact of the sanctions remains to be seen, also pending actions by the US and EU.
POLITICS Arctic Tide: British Royal Marines Practiced Amphibious Operations in the High North The British Royal Navy recently practiced deploying, protecting, and resupplying special forces in Troms, Northern Norway, within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force.
OPINIONS The Norwegian State Budget: Almost Every Coin Spent in the North is Due to Russia Comment: Those who are still unsure of what governs the High North policy should take a look at the Norwegian state budget for 2026. Three ministries clearly state that this is about defense and security policy. To whatever degree the North is strengthened, it is purely due to the threat from Russia.
Secretary McMahon Should Consider Establishing a National Resource Center on Arctic Studies within the University of Alaska System Oct 15 2025 - 12:02
Arctic Tide: British Royal Marines Practiced Amphibious Operations in the High North Oct 15 2025 - 16:58
Prime Minister of Iceland: “We Better Control What's Happening in Our Own Backyard” Oct 17 2025 - 17:39
POLITICS Denmark to Strengthen Arctic Defense by DKK 27,4 Billion The acquisition of a maritime patrol aircraft capability, additional Arctic vessels and drones, as well as the construction of a subsea cable between Greenland and Denmark. These are among the investments in a new Danish defense agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Op-ed Norway Arms Itself... But Who Will Pay The Bill? "Rising defense spending puts pressure on the welfare state and on taxpayers, says Ioanna Liouta", political and economic analyst.
Newsletter Greetings from the Land of Fire and Ice Newsletter: The largest international conference in the Arctic takes place in Reykjavik. High North News is there, pencils sharpened, but first, some insights from the defense-heavy week that passed. Here is the latest news from the North.
POLITICS U.S. Coast Guard to Receive 11 New Icebreakers Under Landmark Finland Deal The U.S. Coast Guard appears set to operate one of the most capable polar icebreaker fleets within a few short years. The service will receive 11 medium Arctic Security Cutter vessels under a U.S.-Finland deal unveiled by the White House last Friday.
ARCTIC LIVING Come Inside a Home Guard Defense Exercise in the Norwegian Arctic Porsanger (High North News): Join Norway's northernmost home guard district - HV17 - on an exercise at Garrison Porsangmoen, in the Norwegian Arctic.
BUSINESS Cornerstone Businesses Face Uncertainty Regarding EU Measures It is still unclear whether Norway will steer clear of the EU's safeguard measures on alloy imports. For the metal industry in Northern Norway, limited market access to the EU may have big consequences.
OPINIONS Secretary McMahon Should Consider Establishing a National Resource Center on Arctic Studies within the University of Alaska System The U.S. Department of Education needs to address the geographic bias against Arctic Studies and Pacific Studies in the NRC Program. That could start with the establishment of a Center for Arctic Studies within the University of Alaska System, writes researcher Michael Walsh in this op-ed.
POLITICS NATO's New Air Operations Center Opened: Officially Part of the Alliance's Command Bodø (High North News): NATO's third Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) has officially been inaugurated after a rapid build-up. The headquarters will participate in a major NATO exercise already this month, says the CAOC Commander to HNN.
Arne O. Holm says A Perfect Storm: When Healthcare and Defense Competes for the Same Youths Comment (Porsangmoen og Sodankyle): A perfect storm is brewing in the North. Soon, two of our most important public agencies will fight for the same workforce. Without drastic measures, one of them, perhaps both, will be left as losers.
SCIENCE Scientists Discover Life in Arctic Ice at -15 Degrees Celsius Stanford researchers report that Arctic algae can move in -15 degrees Celsius, the lowest temperature movement ever recorded in complex living cells. This has raised new questions about how algal communities regulate the overall health of the Arctic environment.
POLITICS Finland’s Stubb To Meet Trump in Washington DC To Push Icebreaker Deal for Coast Guard After several months of calm the topic of Finnish icebreaker for the U.S. Coast Guard appears set to come to the forefront again with both Finland’s Prime Minister and President meeting with U.S. President Trump in Washington DC thursday.
