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

Tobias Billstrøm

Swedish MFA to HNN: The NATO Ball Is in Turkey's Court

Tromsø, Northern Norway: Sweden and Finland have made great efforts to fulfill the agreement with Turkey and continue their joint path into NATO, says the Swedish MFA. He also points to the risk of unintentional military escalation in the Arctic – and believes that there is a stabilizing effect in Swedish and Finnish NATO membership.

Lisa Murkowski

US Senator for Alaska: "We are Sending an Important Message to Russia"

Tromsø, Northern Norway: "Despite the war in Ukraine, Russia is still exercising a level of dominance in the Arctic," says US Senator for Alaska, Lisa Murkowski (R), stating that it is important to show strength towards Russia. Especially now.

Putin

Putin Discusses Russian Territorial Claims in Arctic with Security Council

Russian President Putin and members of the country’s Security Council deliberated about the Russia’s outer border of the continental shelf in the Arctic. It follows the development of a plan by Russia’s Federal Security Service last month on how to counter foreign provocations in the country’s Arctic claims.

Notices

Science / 30.01.2023

Fish Diversity Increasing in Northern Waters as Oceans Warm

The diversity of fish species in northern seas has increased by more than…

Science / 30.01.2023

Tracking Microplastics Found in Seals

Microplastics have been found in the bodies of Bering Strait spotted seals…

Arctic Living / 30.01.2023

The Arctic Winter Games Returned

The weeklong Arctic Winter Games 2023 brings thousands to Northern Alberta…

Politics / 17.01.2023

Pink Salmon Stopped With Fish Barriers

"There has been some uncertainty as to whether it is possible to stop the…

Beltevogn-konvoi ved Setermoen

Allied and Norwegian Forces Prepare for the Largest Military Exercise in Norway in 2023

In early March, 10,000 Norwegian and allied soldiers will train to defend Norway in the winter exercise Joint Viking. Soldiers from the US, the Netherlands, and the UK are already preparing and training in Northern Norway.

Anniken Huitfeldt

Norwegian MFA Huitfeldt Wants a Smooth Takeover of the Arctic Council

Tromsø, Northern Norway: On the 11th of May, Norway will take over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council from a locked-out Russia. MFA Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor) plans a smooth transition and says there is some contact with Russia.

Northern Strike

USA Plan for Potential Arctic Confrontations with “Northern Strike” Exercise

U.S. military units conducted a 10-day exercise in near-Arctic conditions to improve readiness to face Russia and China in the region. "We have realized the importance of the Arctic", says Army General Hokanson while visiting the training grounds.

Evan Bloom.

Arctic Council Chairmanship: “Norway Knows How to Do It”

Tromsø, Northern Norway: Arctic experts trust Norway to maneuver the transfer of the Arctic Council Chairmanship from Russia based on Norway's long-lasting relationship with the country. “Norway has been balancing and protecting the cooperation with Russia for many years while pushing back Russian aggression", says American professor Evan Bloom.

Vintertrening i Norge

The High North on the Agenda for Norwegian-Dutch Minister Meeting

The Norwegian Army and Dutch forces are currently winter training in Troms, Northern Norway. "We have great mutual benefit of practicing and training together in the north," says Norwegian Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram (Center) who will meet his Dutch counterpart for bilateral conversations in the north next week.

Ida Pinnerød, Patti Bruns, Gunnar Wilhelmsen og Anniken Huitfeldt.

Norwegian MFA: "We Need This Forum in These Times"

Tromsø, Northern Norway: Mayors from across the Arctic met in Tromsø, Northern Norway to officially open the Arctic Mayors’ Forum Secretariat.

National Geographic Explorer

IMO Updates Guidelines on Noise Pollution, But no Mandatory Rules for the Arctic

The International Maritime Organization took incremental steps to protecting marine environments, including in the Arctic, from noise pollution. The voluntary measures, however, do not go far enough, say environmental groups and the Inuit Circumpolar Council.

Håkon Lunde Saxi, førsteamanuensis ved Stabsskolen, Forsvarets høgskole. (Foto: Astri Edvardsen)

Not As Dramatic in Reality if Swedish NATO Membership Is Postponed, Believes Researcher

If Finland enters NATO while Sweden has to wait, it would be unfortunate. The practical significance, however, is attenuated by the fact that Sweden has been given security guarantees and strong support by NATO. The Nordic defense cooperation can also be further developed to a great degree, researcher Håkon Lunde Saxi points out.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

India Puts Up a Fight Against China in the Arctic

(Commentary) It is an almost accepted truth that China is gaining ever greater power over Russia. But less attention surrounds India's entry into the Arctic. Both of these populous states are targeting Arctic resources.

Yamal LNG

Novatek With New 2023 Launches Despite sanctions

Russian producer of natural gas, Novatek continues to overcome the impact of sanctions and will deploy two massive floating LNG hubs near Murmansk and Kamchatka in 2023. The transshipment hubs represent the final piece in its logistics chain to export LNG from the Arctic to Europe and Asia.

Finlands statsminister Sanna Marin og hennes statssekretær Henrik Haapajärvi (andre t.h.) er i gang med å oppdatere landets arktiske politikk for ei ny tid etter at Russlands krigføring har medført store omveltninger. I neste uke kommer Haapajärvi til Tromsø for å hente input under den store arktiske konferansen Arctic Frontiers. (Foto: Laura Kotila/den finske regjeringen)

Finland Explores New Direction for Its Arctic Policy

Finland wants to update its Arctic policy following the war in Ukraine and will kick off the debate during Arctic Frontiers in Tromsø, Northern Norway, next week.

Achimgaz

German Oil and Gas Company Faces Criticism For Slow Exit from Russia

German oil and gas producer Wintershall Dea withdraws from its Russian joint venture in the Arctic. The company faces criticism for its late departure and accusations that its gas condensate may have been used by the Russian military.

Norwegian Russia Diplomats: The Barents Cooperation Has Not Been In Vain

The Barents cooperation – especially the people-to-people dimension – has created a less tense and more constructive neighborship in the High North and this is not zeroed out because of the Ukraine War, believes veterans of the Norwegian MFA.

Melkøya

Norway Intends to Offer Record-Level of Oil and Gas Exploration Blocks in the Arctic

Norway plans to offer a record 92 blocks for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic during the 2023 concession round as the government states that new discoveries in “the north” will be key for the country and Europe.

USA forsvarssjef, general Mark Milley, og Norges forsvarssjef, general Eirik Kristoffersen, i Oslo sist lørdag. (Foto: Torbjørn Kjosvold/Forsvaret)

New Military Summit About the Arctic

The development of the Ukraine war and joint strategic challenges in the North was on the agenda for this weekend's meeting of chiefs of defense in Norway, shortly after a NATO meeting at the same level in Brussels. The Norwegian Armed Forces does not want to specify which other countries than the US that participated.

Oberstløytnant Trond Haugen

Norwegian Forces in Readiness in Iceland

In January and February 2023, Norwegian fighter planes monitor Icelandic airspace on behalf of NATO.