This week, the Russian Northern Fleet's destroyer, Admiral Ushakov, practices live-fire shooting in the Barents Sea – and the anti-submarine ship Onega practices submarine hunting in the White Sea. With this, the fleet has carried out 11 smaller exercises so far in May.

After more than a year of standstill, the Arctic Council starts its meetings again in mid-June.

The US Coast Guard does not currently have a date for completion of the new heavy icebreaker. Compounding delays could push delivery toward the end of this decade, or possibly beyond.

Last week, Russia transferred the chairship of the Arctic Council to Norway. A way forward for the council requires joint efforts for dialogue to preserve the Arctic as a peaceful and stable region with constructive cooperation, says the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

A united Nordic region in NATO leads to the increased strategic significance of the Kola Peninsula, believes the Norwegian Defense Commission. For the next 20 years, Norway and its allies must take into account the increasing Russian ability and willingness to threaten or use force in the north.