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

Et mindre team av britiske marinesoldater øver på nattraid. (Foto: Finn Stainer-Hutchins © Crown copyright 2025)

Historic Defense Agreement between Norway and the UK

Norway and the UK have signed an extensive defense agreement. One of the central points in the agreement involves British forces having a greater role in the defense of Norway.

New Research Project to Map ‘Zombie Houses’ in Sweden

Researcher Andreas Back at Umeå University will investigate abandoned houses in Sweden and explore how they can be utilized as a resource, particularly in areas experiencing long-term population decline.

Eu parliament assembly.

EU Parliament Charts New Arctic Course, With Norway and Other Arctic Partners at the Center

The Parliament of the European Union adopted a new Arctic resolution warning of military buildup and highlighting the need for cooperation with Nordic partners, including Norway, to ready itself for the coming geopolitical competition.

Notices

Politics / 05.12.2025

High North Mission Boosting NATO Presence in The Norwegian Sea

Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) has kicked off its second High…

BUSINESS / 04.12.2025

Marine Ecosystem Restoration Startup from Tromsø Wins Award

The International Polar Foundation has announced the fourth winner of the…

POLITICS / 25.11.2025

Canada Reconsiders Full U.S. F-35A Fleet As Swedish Offer Gains Ground

Canada’s fighter replacement program, long anchored on an order for 88 F…

BUSINESS / 25.11.2025

Land-based Salmon Farms Seen as Platform for Red Algae Production

A new study from Nofima indicates that discharge water from land based…

Markus, Alina, Sakib

We Cannot Build a Sustainable Arctic from Military Budgets

Op-Ed: Since 2022 the political language around the Arctic has changed. Security now takes up much more attention than cooperation.

Ioanna Liouta

Norway, European Defence, and The Future of The Nordic Welfare Model

Norway, European defence, and the Future of the Nordic welfare model - What the European Banking Federation report reveals about Europe’s most crucial non EU defence partner.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

The EU Finally Gets It, Leading to New Possibilities for Us

Comment: While Norway is refusing to adjust its position toward the EU, the EU recently adopted a new strategic resolution for the Arctic that could have a major impact on Norway and the High North. Its most notable feature is the recognition of increased militarization in the North.

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…

LKABs nye skipslaster i Narvik Havn

LKAB Strengthens Logistics in the North with a New Ship Loader in the Port of Narvik

The Swedish mining company LKAB has inaugurated a new ship loader in the Port of Narvik, Northern Norway, which is of central importance for the company's exports.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

Why November 2028 is Crucial for Europe's Security

Comment: When will Russia once again be able to attack another European country? For Northern Europe and a number of Baltic states, that will hopefully not be possible until November 7th, 2028. The so-called peace agreement for Ukraine showcases the gravity of the situation.

Roy-Arne Salater i TV 2

“More Important Than Ever to Be Present,” Says Prominent Reporter in the North

Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): Norway's commercial public service broadcaster, TV2, is cutting photographers at its regional offices, leaving only two reporters to cover half of Norway. The cuts are part of a trend in which Norwegian national media outlets are reducing their physical presence in the districts, according to professor at Nord University.

ICEYE eier og opererer verdens største konstellasjon av satellitter med syntetisk aperturradar. (Foto: ICEYE)

Finland Seeks Allied Cooperation on Space-Based Surveillance in the High North

Finland is building up satellite surveillance capability and wants to join forces with allies to strengthen collective defense, said Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen at NATO's Arctic Space Forum. Key Finnish and Swedish space actors have already signed a letter of intent on cooperation.

Nezir Sinani and Svitlana Romanko

Stop Russia’s Arctic LNG now: The G7 Must Shut Down the Tankers Financing Putin’s War

"Russia’s export of liquefied natural gas from the Arctic is the last major financial artery keeping Putin’s war machine alive — and the G7 must cut it now, before it expands to become a climate killer", says Svitlana Romanko from Razom We Stand and Nezir Sinani from B4Ukraine.

Arc7 at Sabetta

UK Maritime Services Ban on Russian LNG Threatens Seapeak’s Arctic Yamal Fleet

The UK maritime services ban will apply to Seapeak Maritime (Glasgow) Ltd., a key provider of shipping services to Russia’s Yamal LNG project, the government confirmed to HNN. Without Seapeak’s six Arc7 LNG carriers the project would face significant logistical challenges.

Hanna Honkamäkilä, leder for internasjonale spørsmål i Oulu-regionens råd og medlem av Barents regionkomité. (Foto: Astri Edvardsen)

No New Structure for Northern Nordic Cooperation in Sight?

Rovaniemi, Finland (High North News): At the end of the year, Finland will withdraw from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and the search for a new cooperation framework has so far not yielded any tangible results. “I really hope that we find a common path forward,” says Hanna Honkamäkilä in the Council of Oulu Region.

Manumina Documents the Bond Between Greenlandic Hunters and Sled Dogs: “They Had to Be Loved Like Humans”

Nuuk, Greenland (High North News): Researcher Manumina Lund Jensen has spent the last 8 years studying the culture of sled dogs in Greenland. Among her most fascinating finds are the stories of sled dogs being cross-bred with Arctic wolves in order to make better polar bear hunters.

Fra signering av norsk-russisk fiskeriavtale for 2022

Norway and Russia Have Agreed on Date for Fisheries Negotiations

After much uncertainty, this year's fisheries negotiations between Norway and Russia will now be held digitally at the start of December.

Cargo ship emitting black carbon

Ticking Clock: Arctic States Have Less Than a Fortnight to Act on Black Carbon and Polar Fuels

The Arctic is warming four times faster than anywhere else on Earth - this is a warning sign for elsewhere on the planet. The shipping sector has been gifted an opportunity to cut black carbon emissions from shipping in the region, which would have a near-immediate positive impact. But time is tight, writes Dr. Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, in this op-ed.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

The Municipal Crisis: I Had to Go to Finland to Find a Happy Mayor

Comment: He had long been left in my notebook, the mayor of Finnish Sodankylä. Time and again, he lost out to comments on more critical conditions in the North. But he didn't give up. Like a blister, he called for my attention.

Grønlands Naalakkersuisoq (minister) for utenrikssaker, næring og handel, Vivian Motzfeldt (Siumut). (Foto: Naalakkersuisut)

Greenland to Cooperate With Japanese Peace Foundation – Aims to Become an Arctic Hub for Peace

"It has never been more important to strengthen efforts for peace," says Greenland's Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt. She recently signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Japanese Sasakawa Peace Foundation. The agreement will initiate joint work on peace research in the Arctic.