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Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Agreement for 2026: "Noteworthy," says researcher

Despite the demanding backdrop, Norway and Russia reached a fisheries agreement for 2026 this week. FNI Researcher Geir Hønneland underscores that this year's agreement shows how vital the fisheries agreement is to Russia. The Norwegian Fishermen's Association's leader, Jan Roger Lerbukt, says the agreement continues to further stability.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

Who to Trust? Danish or Norwegian Intelligence?

Comment: We are about to close on a turbulent year, to put it mildly. It might have been the most turbulent any of us can remember. So let us hope that next year offers something different, such as the Arctic remaining a region without armed conflict.

Fra signering av norsk-russisk fiskeriavtale for 2022

Norway and Russia Have Reached a Fisheries Agreement for 2026

After much uncertainty regarding this year's fisheries negotiations, Norway and Russia reached a fisheries agreement for 2026 on Thursday. The parties have agreed on a continued decline in the quota for the important cod in the Barents Sea, among other things.

Notices

BUSINESS / 19.12.2025

Arctic Encounter 2026 Registration Is Open

The Arctic Encounter Summit 2026 registration is now live. The summit…

POLITICS / 18.12.2025

The Danish Annual Risk Assessment Now in English

The Danish Defence Intelligence Service’s (DDIS) annual risk assessment,…

POLITICS / 18.12.2025

Calls For Investigation Into 1995 Avalanche in Iceland

Residents of Flateyri in Iceland, who were affected by the avalanche in…

POLITICS / 11.12.2025

Denmark Sees US As Potential Security Concern

Denmark has labeled the United States as a potential security concern for…

LNG Carrier off Norway's Northern Coast // LNG-skip langs norskekysten (Foto: Torbein Rønning/Flickr)

Russia’s Arctic Shipping Route Turns Into “Dark Fleet” Corridor Used by 100 Sanctioned Vessels

One third of Arctic shipping traffic along the Northern Sea Route involves sanctioned vessels of Russia’s shadow fleet, a new report warns. The figures include 38 sanctioned oil tankers, often poorly maintained and insured and frequently without ice-classification.

The Arctic Report Card 2025: Record Low Winter Sea Ice and Orange Rivers

The Arctic Report Card 2025 highlights the continued alarming developments in the Arctic and how climate change is disproportionately affecting the region.

High North News Presents: The Arctic Circle Podcast - This Way Up!

Advocating for the Arctic

How does one advocate for one of the most rapidly changing regions on Earth? In this…

The Arctic On Fire

The Arctic isn’t just warming, it’s on fire. From the record-shattering 2023 wildfire…

Anja Salo

The Arctic Council Launches New Podcast: “We Want to Bring the Arctic to the World”

In the following months, High North News will publish the Arctic Council's new…

Welcome to This Way Up

Welcome to This Way Up, the new Arctic Council podcast. In this introductory episode…

Northvolt, Skellefteå

EU Supports Laid-Off Northvolt Workers With EUR 8.5 Million

The EU and Swedish authorities will provide financial aid to laid-off Northvolt workers in Sweden following the battery manufacturer's bankruptcy.

Surprising Perceptions of Climate in the Canadian Arctic

A significant proportion of surveyed Canadian Arctic residents believe climate change was either caused by natural changes or that the scientific evidence was not sufficient.

Willy (84) Has Researched Current Arctic Challenges Through a Historical Lens

Willy Østreng (84) has spent five years on his new book, The Geopolitical Arctic Ocean. Through two volumes, he examines the current challenges in the Arctic Ocean through a historical lens. He wishes to place his own research into a greater context.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

The Silk Gloves Are off and Europe Is in the Splits

Comment: The silk gloves are off. It took the Danish Defence Intelligence Service to stand up against the USA and Donald Trump. Their message cannot be misunderstood: the USA is a threat to Europe.

Tom Dans

Trump Appoints Top US Arctic Research Position to Key Person Behind Greenland Visits

US President Trump has appointed Tom Dans to lead the federal agency that advises the White House and Congress on America’s research activities in the Arctic. Dans has recently been involved in promoting closer US-Greenlandic ties.

Forsvaret har en liten stasjon på polarøya Jan Mayen, som ligger på grensa mellom Norskehavet og Grønlandshavet. Her har Forsvaret 15 ansatte med ansvar for drift av en flyplass og annen infrastruktur. Meteorologisk institutt har også to ansatte på øya. Den eksisterende bygningsmassen er i dårlig stand, og nå setter regjeringen av midler til bygging av et nytt hovedbygg. (Foto: Anette Ask/Forsvaret)

Norway to Introduce Military Police Authority on Arctic Island

The Norwegian Ministry of Defense believes the current security policy situation calls for the expansion of the military police's scope to include the Norwegian Arctic island of Jan Mayen.

denmark-greenland_knud-rasmussen_bredskabsstyrelsen-dema.

Danish Intelligence Warns U.S. “Hemispheric Approach” Raises Arctic Security Uncertainty

A sharper U.S. focus on its “immediate region” and the hemispheric approach of Washington’s new National Security Strategy has created doubts in Copenhagen about America’s long-term role in the Arctic.

Newnew Polar Bear convoy

Northern Sea Route 2025 Season Concludes With Stable Transit Traffic Amid Challenging Ice Conditions

The 2025 summer–autumn navigation season on Russia’s Northern Sea Route wrapped up with 103 transit voyages moving an estimated 3.2 million tons of cargo. While tanker traffic continued to dominate, bulk carriers and container ships posted notable gains.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

A Peace Prize On Crutches

Comment: Peace prize winner Maria Corina Machado was met with protests instead of peace walks when she finally arrived in Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. One of the reasons is her close ties to Donald Trump. Such reasoning opens up for endless protests across Europe.

Stig Andreas Johannessen

Stig (30) Has Researched Snow in Svalbard for Four Years: “I Don’t Even Ski!”

Stig Andreas Johannessen (30) became the first to defend his dissertation in Arctic Security at UNIS, the University Center in Svalbard. He has researched how Longyearbyen manages climate-related risks while simultaneously experiencing how climate change impacts the island himself.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

The Dramatic Battle Over Defense Expenses Is About Much More Than Money

Comment: Right now, a dramatic battle is taking place within the EU about the continued funding of Ukraine's defense against an increasingly aggressive Russia. However, this is not just about money, but largely also about the voters' continued trust in their leaders.

German-Norwegian Type 212 submarine.

Norway to Expand Submarine Fleet With Two Additional German-Built Boats to Counter Rising Russian Threat

Facing increased Russian naval activity in northern waters, Norway extending a submarine contract from four to six vessels, at a cost of NOK 46 billion. Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik calls the subs “absolutely central” to the nation’s security – and NATO’s.

Sharing Strategic Geography: The Nordics Amid a Changing Security Reality

As the security environment in northern Europe is rapidly changing, the North should now be considered as having a shared strategic geography, writes Postdoctoral Fellow Gabriella Gricius in this op-ed.