High North News - News, analysis and debate about politics and business in the North

Amerikansk B-1B Lancer strategisk bombefly

US Strategic Bombers and Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford Participates In Arctic Challenge Exercise

On Monday, American B-1B strategic bombers and USS Gerald R. Ford's air wing co-trained with Norwegian F-35 fighters in the High North. This took place within the framework of the major Nordic live air exercise Arctic Challenge.

Et russisk strategisk bombefly av typen Tu-95. (Foto: RAF/MOD)

Russian Strategic Bombers With New Flight Over the Western Barents Sea

On Monday, two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers flew in international airspace over the western part of the Barents Sea. They were accompanied by four MiG-31 fighter jets, as well as two II-78 tanker aircraft. The group was identified by Norwegian F-35 fighter jets.

Gasum bygger fyllestasjon for biogass i Lappland

Gasum to Build First Liquefied Biogas Filling Station in Finnish Lapland

Gasum will build Europe's northernmost liquefied biogas filling station in the Northern Finnish city of Keminmaa.

Notices

business / 05.06.2023

270 000 Signatures Against Icelandic Whaling

Whaling was protested against in the center of Icelands capitol Reykjavík…

Science / 05.06.2023

Launch of Québec Research Institute

The Government of Canada and the Government of Québec have each announced …

Business / 02.06.2023

Norilsk Nickel Developes Network of Wells To Monitor Permafrost

Norilsk Nickel is developing a network of wells in the Arctic to monitor…

Business / 02.06.2023

Hurtigruten Norway With New Svalbard Cruise

Hurtigruten Norway is now launching the Svalbard Express, a new route from…

Tiksi.

Arctic Port of Tiksi Opens to Foreign Vessels To Spur Investments along NSR

Russia continues to bank on the development of its Northern Sea Route for future economic prosperity. By designating Tiksi an “international port” it hopes to create a new cargo hub along the route.

EU flag at the European Parliament

EU Begins Consultations to Curb Inflow of Russian LNG

Following earlier calls by the EU Commission and member states to begin limiting imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, discussions on the issue began last week as part of a broader gas package.

Klaksvík på vestkysten av Borðoy er Færøyenes fiskerihovedstad. Fiskeri utgjør øygruppas viktigste næring. (Foto: Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia)

The Faroe Islands Extends Port Ban for Russian Vessels

The Faroese government wants to introduce further sanctions against Russia – and will now limit port access for Russian fishing vessels. Only fishing vessels exclusively conducting fisheries under the bilateral agreement will be allowed to call at ports.

Russia in the High North:

Et russisk strategisk bombefly av typen Tu-95. (Foto: RAF/MOD)

Russian Strategic Bombers With New Flight Over the Western Barents Sea

On Monday, two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers flew in international airspace over…

Also see

Russia Terminates Agreement With Finland on Military Evaluation Visits

Russia to Cut Coal Production on Svalbard by 80 000 Tonnes by 2032

Russia to Begin Year-Round Shipping on Entire Northern Sea Route in 2024

Tiksi.

Arctic Port of Tiksi Opens to Foreign Vessels To Spur Investments along NSR

Russia continues to bank on the development of its Northern Sea Route for future…

EU flag at the European Parliament

EU Begins Consultations to Curb Inflow of Russian LNG

Following earlier calls by the EU Commission and member states to begin limiting…

Klaksvík på vestkysten av Borðoy er Færøyenes fiskerihovedstad. Fiskeri utgjør øygruppas viktigste næring. (Foto: Vincent van Zeijst, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia)

The Faroe Islands Extends Port Ban for Russian Vessels

The Faroese government wants to introduce further sanctions against Russia – and will…

High North Tour 2023

“Dynamic Hangover” Is a Go: The Hunt for USS Gerald R. Ford

Vestfjorden: The world's largest aircraft carrier was met with cheers in Oslo a week ago. However, after the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford left the Norwegian capital, it has been silent. Dead silent.

Det svenske kampflyet JAS 39 Gripen fra Norrbottens luftflotilje på Rovaniemi flybase, Nord-Finland, under den finsk-svensk luftforsvarsøvelsen Ruska 22 i oktober. (Foto: Jesper Sundström/Försvarsmakten)

Russia Terminates Agreement With Finland on Military Evaluation Visits

Last Tuesday, Russia announced the termination of a bilateral agreement with Finland on extra military evaluation visits. Before the pandemic, the parties made such visits to each other annually. Thus, yet another trust-building measure in the military field dissolves.

Den nye stillingen i Utenriksdepartementet med arbeidssted i Tromsø vil være tilknyttet Arktisk råds sekretariat, som ligger ved Framsenteret. (Foto: Evgenii Salganik, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikipedia)

The Norwegian MFA Creates Position in Tromsø in Connection With the Arctic Council Chairship

Norway took over the chairship of the Arctic Council earlier in May. Now, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is establishing a project position for the chairship period in Tromsø, Northern Norway.

USAs utenriksminister Antony Blinken er for tida på rundreise i Norden. (Foto: Chuck Kennedy/USAs utenriksdepartement)

US MFA on Round Trip in Sweden, Norway and Finland

This week, US' Minister of Foreign Affairs Antony Blinken has been traveling around the Nordic region. Discussing trade and technology with EU countries and foreign and security policy with NATO colleagues has been on the agenda – as well as bilateral issues.

Fungerende forsvarsminister Troels Lund Poulsen.

Denmark to Strengthen Defense in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea

The Danish government has presented a defense agreement with a proposed investment of DKK 143 billion over the next ten years. The agreement lays the basis for Denmark to increase its focus on defense in the Arctic and its immediate areas in the East.

Trust Arktikugol bør få økte midler til å gjennomføre utslippskutt ved kullkraftverket i Barentsburg, foreslås det i framtidsanalysen. (Foto: Snorre Tønset/KLD)

Russia to Cut Coal Production on Svalbard by 80 000 Tonnes by 2032

The yearly coal production in Barentsburg is planned to be reduced from 120 000 to 40 000 tonnes, according to the Russian Minister of the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

The Sanctions Against Russia Are Determined by Our Own Needs

(Commentary) 20-something Norwegian businesses are under investigation for violating the sanctions against Russia. At the same time, Russian gas carriers anchor in Norwegian ports and fill up the Russian coffer with euros and dollars.

Hangarskipet USS Gerald R. Ford med sin skipsgruppe seilte søndag i formasjon med Natos stående maritime gruppe 1 i Nordsjøen. Bak hangarskipet er missilkrysseren USS Normandy og destroyeren USS Thomas Hudner, samt fregatter i SNMG1 fra Tyskland, Spania, Polen og Nederland. Sistnevnte deltar på den amerikanskledede marineøvelsen Formidable Shield i nordområdene og Nord-Atlanteren. (Foto: Jackson Adkins/USAs marine)

US Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to Operate in the High North

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, and its fleet group will co-train with Norwegian forces in Arctic waters. "I am looking forward to our joint operations on NATO's northern flank," says the commander of the US Sixth Fleet.

Nuclear-powered icebreaker

Russia to Begin Year-Round Shipping on Entire Northern Sea Route in 2024

Russian officials announced that year-round exports of liquified natural gas from the Arctic to Asia will begin early next year.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

Perhaps We Should Grow Bananas Along Our Border With Russia?

(Commentary) Norway is to be resurrected as an industrial nation. But which industries we should venture into, and why, is not easy to see. Soon, there will be only banana producers who have not knocked on the Norwegian Ministry of Finance's door, in the hunt for green subsidies.

MGIMO University, Moscow

MGIMO to Teach Chinese in Arkhangelsk For Development of NSR

The Arctic Federal University in Arkhangelsk will introduce Chinese as a second foreign language in the student curriculum, with the help of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

Rå Biopark med milliard-avtale på biogass i nord

Major Agreement for Biogas in Northern Norway

Rå BioPark and Barents NaturGass have entered into an agreement on the sales and distribution of biogas of a value of NOK 1,2 billion. "A milestone for the Northern Norwegian business sector and an important contribution to the green shift in the north," says the General Manager of Rå Biopark.