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

– Vi samer er ett folk, og det er alvorlig at en del av vårt folk er isolert, sier Eirik Larsen om samer på russisk side. Han er representant fra norsk side av Sápmi i Barentssamarbeidets arbeidsgruppe for urfolk, og sametingsrepresentant for Norske samers riksforbund. (Foto: NSR/Piera Heaika Muotka)

“Cooperation With the Sámi on the Russian Side Is Severely Affected by Russia’s War”

The Barents cooperation with the Sámi and other indigenous peoples in Russia has lain fallow since March 2022 – and has now formally ended with Moscow's withdrawal from the Barents Council. “The lack of interaction with the Sámi on the Russian side worries us, says Eirik Larsen, a representative in the Sámi Parliament in Norway.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

Solberg Gate: The Police Were Never Intended to Be Responsible for Democracy Itself

Commentary: The Nordic democracies are under pressure. In Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, they are challenged by far-right parties. In Sweden, they are also challenged by fatal gang conflicts. In Norway, the attacks are coming from the political establishment.

Den franske marinen er til stede i nordlige farvann med flere fartøyer for tida. En ubåt og et militært støttefartøy har nylig besøkt Tromsø – og framover skal en fransk fregatt eskortere det britiske hangarskipet HMS Queen Elizabeth, som nå opererer langs norskekysten. Her er bilde av fregatten FS Aquitaine under en tidligere øvelse i Nord-Norge. (Foto: Marius Vågenes Villanger/Forsvaret)

“Security in the Arctic is of Greatest Interest to France,” says French Commander

The French Navy's nuclear submarine and support vessel which recently docked in Tromsø, Northern Norway, have carried out long-term missions in the North Atlantic. This shows France's allied commitment to security in northern areas and desire to learn more about them, asserts French Commander.

Notices

Politics / 29.09.2023

Further Restricts Rules For Russian-Registered Passenger Cars

The European Commission recently published updated guidelines on the…

Politics / 29.09.2023

The New Finnmark County Council Will Be Constituted on the 10th of October

On the 10th of October, the new county council for the new Finnmark County…

Politics / 28.09.2023

Greenland’s MFA will also serve as Minister of Independence

The Greenlandic government Naalakkersuisut has a new composition, it says…

Politics / 28.09.2023

Nordic Ministers for Equality meet in Iceland

On Tuesday, there was a meeting of the Nordic Council of Ministers for…

Longyear energiverk

All Ready for the Transition From Coal to Diesel in Longyearbyen

The transition from coal to diesel will occur in late October or early November when the tank facility in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, is filled with winter diesel.

The US and Indian Armies Kickoff Training Exercise in Alaska

The Indian Army and the US Army recently kicked off their annual joint military training exercise. The exercise, which takes place in Alaska, aims to enhance the US-India Defense Partnership.

USCGC Healy in the Arctic.

USA's Largest Icebreaker to Northern Norway in October

The US's largest coast guard ship and icebreaker, USCGC Healy, will arrive in Tromsø at the beginning of October. It is the first time an American coast guard ship has come to the Norwegian Arctic city.

Russia in the High North:

Joint exercises of Northern and Black Sea fleets

US Air Force Conducts Mission Over The Barents Sea as Russia's Northern Fleet Begins Exercises

On Monday and Tuesday this week, two American planes flew over the Barents Sea. At…

Also see

Russia Sends Oil Tanker Without Ice Protection Through Arctic For First Time

Transport of LNG Modules to Russia Continues, Calling Effectiveness of EU Sanctions Into Question

Russian Government Vessel Continues to Follow US Coast Guard Icebreaker on Northern Sea Route

LNG Construction Center

US Further Tightens Sanctions Screw Targeting Russian Arctic Gas Projects

Existing Western sanctions targeting Russia’s Arctic oil and gas development plans…

Russia withdraws from the Barents Cooperation

On Monday, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. The…

Kinas spesialutsending til Arktis, Gao Feng (t.v.), hadde nylig møte med Russlands ambassadør for Arktis, Nikolaj Korchunov. (Foto: Arctic Circle; Vyacheslav Viktorov/Roscongress)

Russia and China Discussed Further Arctic Cooperation – Also Within the Arctic Council

The realization of Russian-Chinese joint projects in the Arctic was recently…

Lars Fause og Yngve Odlo på Svalbard

The Governor of Svalbard: "These Are Different Times"

On Thursday and Friday, Lieutenant General Yngve Odlo, Commander of The Norwegian Joint Headquarters, visited the Governor of Svalbard, Lars Fause. "In an uncertain time in Europe, it is even more important that the State shows a clearer presence in Svalbard," says Fause.

Sabetta

Polar Code May Need Updating as Arctic Shipping Increases New Study Concludes

With more ships venturing across the Arctic Polar Code rules may have to be expanded, a new report suggests. Shipping experts also caution that Russia may not be enforcing the existing rules as it sends a growing number of vessels through its Arctic waters.

Et norsk F-35 jagerfly tar her av etter et pitstop på motorveien i de finske skoger. Umiddelbart etter landing ble det utført såkalt «hot pit refueling» – der motoren går mens drivstofftanken fylles for å redusere nedetid. (Foto: Ole Andreas Vekve/Forsvaret)

Norwegian F-35 Fighters Landed on a Finnish Highway for the First Time

On Thursday afternoon, two Norwegian F-35A fighters landed and took off on a highway in Finland. "A milestone for the Norwegian Air Force, the Nordic countries and NATO," says the Chief of the Norwegian Air Force.

Utenriksministermøte i N5 på Island juni 2023

Icelanders Cheer for Nordic Cooperation

Icelanders are most positive about cooperation in the Nordic countries, shows a survey carried out for Iceland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Support for the country's NATO membership and defense cooperation with the USA has decreased somewhat since last year.

New Owners Expect to Complete Acquisition of Norwegian Arctic Mine This Year

The Swedish mineral company Grangex expects to complete the acquisition of the Sydvaranger iron ore mine in Northern Norway during 2023. In an update from the company, several key figures for the planned mining operation are presented.

Joint exercises of Northern and Black Sea fleets

US Air Force Conducts Mission Over The Barents Sea as Russia's Northern Fleet Begins Exercises

On Monday and Tuesday this week, two American planes flew over the Barents Sea. At the same time, the Russian Northern Fleet is launching a major fleet exercise involving operations in the Barents Sea in the west to the East Siberian Sea.

LNG Construction Center

US Further Tightens Sanctions Screw Targeting Russian Arctic Gas Projects

Existing Western sanctions targeting Russia’s Arctic oil and gas development plans have only had limited impact. Now the US aims to further slow down key energy projects in the region with measures specifically aimed at Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project.

Russia withdraws from the Barents Cooperation

On Monday, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. The responsibility for the collapse of cooperation lies solely with the council's western members, claims the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Strike Canada

Hundreds Join Protest Against Equinor's Oil Project in Canada

Youth climate demonstrators from St. John’s in Canadian province Newfoundland and Labrador, held a protest Friday, to rally against the use and subsidization of fossil fuels.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

A Neighborship from Hell

Commentary: We do not choose our neighbors. As a nation, we are at the mercy of our geographical location, also when we are pressured by two Arctic "great powers" gone astray.

Båtlasting Svea

See the Spectacular Photos: The Last People Have Left the Svea Mine on Svalbard

Longyearbyen: They just removed the traces of a spectacular Arctic workplace, a workplace they helped build themselves. "Luckily, it is not our decision. We have just executed it."

USS Georgia

One of US’ Largest Nuclear Submarines Docked in Tromsø

A US nuclear-powered submarine docked in Tromsø, Northern Norway, on Thursday. The submarine is of the Ohio-class, the largest submarines in the US Navy.