High North News - English

Norway and Canada are set to draft an agreement on closer defense cooperation and to train and operate more closely together in the Arctic.

Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed on this during a meeting in Ottawa on Sunday, NTB reports.

"Canada is a close partner for Norway and an important NATO ally. We share many fundamental values and have common interests in the Arctic. In turbulent times, Norway needs a broader foundation to stand on. We are now further strengthening our cooperation with Canada," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says in a press release.

Earlier this year, Norway and Canada established a strategic partnership covering areas such as Arctic security, support for Ukraine, energy, critical minerals, space, artificial intelligence, and climate.

In July, Canada joined the submarine cooperation initiative between Norway and Germany. The three countries are set to acquire identical submarines.

"This will strengthen our—and NATO’s—ability to monitor maritime areas in the north. It is crucial for our shared security," says Støre.

Norway and Canada also intend to increase cooperation between their respective defense industries. In a joint statement, the prime ministers affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine.

Furthermore, the Norwegian and Canadian polar institutes will collaborate more closely on Arctic research.

According to Euronews the EU will maintain its ban on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, ahead of the 20 October announcement of its revamped Northern Neighbourhood strategy.

A ban on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic will remain the European Commission’s official position in a revised strategy Brussels is due to unveil, a EU spokesperson told Euronews, despite fierce pressure from oil-rich Norway to drop the ban.

This summer, every single meter of county road on the island of Røst in Northern Norway has been paved—a total of 8,800 meters. In addition, 800 meters of sidewalk have been constructed, and three bridges have been replaced with culverts.

"In total, we have spent NOK 75 million upgrading the roads on Røst," says Richard Dagsvik (Frp), the County Councilor for Transport in Nordland, in a press release.

"A key reason for the upgrade is that the bridges had axle-load restrictions. We need to facilitate business development and commercial transport," says Dagsvik.

After inspecting both the bridge project and the paving work, a pleased Mayor Elisabeth Mikalsen was able to show the County Councilor and the administration the final result: a wider road, new asphalt, and a sidewalk with new lighting.

"We are very pleased. This is important in so many ways—important for commercial transport, and important for vulnerable road users and tourists traveling across the island," says Mayor Mikalsen.

Two Danish F-35 fighter jets landed in Greenland for the first time on Wednesday, at Kangerlussuaq Airport, reports KNR.

They are training alongside American F-16s and Canadian F-18s.

A Danish F-35 pilot tells the Danish Defence that Arctic conditions pose particular challenges for operations. The weather can be harsh and unpredictable, while distances between airfields are vast.

The operation is also supported by a French aerial refuelling aircraft, a Danish surveillance aircraft and a NATO AWACS aircraft.

US President Donald Trump has previously criticised Denmark for insufficient security measures in Greenland, citing threats from Russia and China.

Kebnekaise’s ice-covered southern peak continues to melt, although at a much slower rate than in recent years, reports SVT.

This year’s measurement puts the peak at 2,088.3 metres above sea level, 10 centimetres lower than at the same time last year.

The ice-free northern peak, which stands at 2,096.8 metres, has therefore been Sweden’s highest point for the eighth consecutive year.

"This year’s limited melting is small compared with previous years, but the peak is still losing height despite the cold summer," says Johanna Dahlkvist of the Tarfala Research Station at Stockholm University.

The southern peak has lost around 30 metres since systematic measurements began in 1951. Last year, it lost 1.5 metres, while melting reached as much as 3.4 metres in 2024.

Finland’s largest genetic research project, FinnGen, plans to expand its database to include health information on the entire Finnish population, reports Yle.

The expansion could involve data on around 7.1 million people, including diagnoses, hospital visits and laboratory results. FinnGen already holds genetic and health-related data on more than 500,000 Finns.

The plans have raised concerns about privacy and data security. Tomi Voutilainen, a professor of public law, warns that it is unclear to citizens how their data will be processed.

Yle also reports two security breaches involving FinnGen, in 2020 and 2023.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney will welcome the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, to Ottawa, Ontario from September 20 to 21.

During the visit, the leaders will discuss opportunities to deepen the Canada-Norway partnership across key sectors, such as energy, critical minerals, and sovereign technology – including artificial intelligence and aerospace, a press release states.

“Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Støre will also advance Canada and Norway’s defence and security partnership. As Arctic nations and NATO Allies, they will discuss efforts to strengthen security and resilience in the Arctic and North Atlantic, modernise our defence capabilities, and bolster secure and resilient defence supply chains that support our collective security," states the press release.

“Canada and Norway are strong partners with growing ties in energy, defence, and technology. I look forward to hosting Prime Minister Støre as we deepen our economic relationship, strengthen the NATO Alliance, and create new opportunities for Canadian and Norwegian workers and businesses,” says Prime Minister Carney.

The County Council of Nordland is providing over 900,000 NOK in support for the project "Preparation for SMEs in Nordland".

The goal is to make small and medium-sized enterprises better equipped to handle crises and contribute to society's preparedness.

The project will be implemented by Sentrum Næringshage AS in Sandnessjøen and will contribute to strengthening cooperation between municipalities and businesses throughout the county.

"We know that business plays a crucial role when society is hit by crises. Companies in transport, energy, logistics, technology and food supply are essential for local communities to function. Therefore, we must ensure that small and medium-sized businesses are also well prepared," says County Councilor for Industry Svein Øien Eggesvik (Sp).

The project comes in the wake of the Total Defence Year 2026, where increased focus has been placed on how the public and private sectors together will strengthen society's resilience.

Chief of Defence Command Finland, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen visited Boden, Sweden earlier this September.

The topic of the visit was Finnish-Swedish defence cooperation (FISE), particularly from the perspective of Forward Land Forces Finland (FLF Finland).

As HNN has reported, NATO's Forward Land Force Finland (FLF Finland) was officially established during a ceremony in Boden in June 2026.

The core of NATO Forward Land Forces Finland (FLF) is a battle group in the Norrbotten Brigade, in Boden, Northern Sweden. It will be able to move rapidly to Finnish Lapland to conduct operations under a multinational staff element in Rovaniemi.

The Chief of Defence Command Finland inspected the battlegroup and met with its commander.

“The unit specialises in Arctic conditions, which is important not only to Finland but to the entire Alliance’s deterrence and defence. I was impressed, seeing the trained and motivated unit in action”, Lieutenant General Virtanen said.

“Our cooperation with Sweden has advanced steadily, which we can now see as concrete steps in operational planning and activities. I want to thank the Swedes for their commitment. Finland and Sweden are working side-by-side and we are stronger together”, he concluded.

During the visit Lieutenant General Virtanen and his hosts also had broader conversations on developing bilateral cooperation and cooperation in the High North. The conversations also included cooperation on the monitoring and safeguarding of territorial integrity, which Finland announced late August.

The Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue (Redningsselskapet) responded to fewer incidents in Troms, Northern Norway, this summer compared to the previous year. Both the number of missions and the number of assists declined relative to last year's season.

Rescue personnel in Troms carried out a total of 33 missions during the summer, down from 60 during the same period last year—a decrease of 45 percent. The number of assists also dropped significantly, falling from 51 to 28.

Of the 33 missions conducted by the organization in the area, more than a third were due to engine or transmission problems, while recreational vessels accounted for over half of the assists.

"Although we are always prepared to respond when incidents occur, we hope these figures reflect the fact that more people are making good choices at sea and carrying out their trips safely," says Kristian Nygård, Head of Emergency Preparedness at the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue, in a press release.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot visits Bodø, Northern Norway 14–15 September for talks with Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide regarding European security, the High North, and the strategic partnership between Norway and France.

The visit takes place at a time when European security is high on the agenda, and as Norway and France cooperate increasingly closely on defense and security policy issues, the Arctic, and the High North.

During the visit, the ministers will receive briefings at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters (NJHQ) and discuss developments in the European security situation. The EU’s Arctic strategy is also on the agenda.

The foreign ministers will meet for a working dinner in Bodø on the evening of 14 September, before the program continues at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters the following morning.

As early as 2022, results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed a decline in performance levels across the Nordic countries.

Students in all Nordic countries scored significantly lower than in the previous assessment, although they remained above the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average in all three subject areas. This trend continues in the latest assessment, published on September 8, 2026.

Results have declined across the Nordic region, continuing a negative trend observed over the past decade. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden have all recorded their lowest scores in reading and mathematics since PISA assessments began.

While some figures remain above the PISA average, this trend points to a worrying development. The same applies to other OECD countries, where scores for mathematics and reading skills have never been lower.

View the results here.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has signed an agreement to boost internet connectivity in remote areas of northern and eastern Greenland, according to DR.

The signing took place alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the head of Greenland's government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

The project will rely on satellite-based internet, with the EU contributing approximately 9.1 million euros over five years and Denmark co-financing with 15 million DKK.

The initiative is expected to increase internet speeds from 6 to 15 megabits per second for residents in these regions, making standard streaming possible. Beyond faster internet, the expansion will enhance security by providing a backup line should the existing coastal radio network fail.

The agreement forms part of a broader EU investment package in Greenland valued at up to 200 million euros in total.

The Lapland Rescue Department in northern Finland is acquiring three new drones costing around 8,000 euros each to upgrade its equipment, according to the Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The new drones feature improved weather resistance, more advanced cameras, a thermal imaging camera, and automated search capabilities that allow the crew to focus on analyzing the footage rather than piloting the aircraft.

The drones are used for a wide range of tasks, from smoke detection and fire localization to searching for missing persons. Additionally, they are equipped with useful accessories such as spotlights and loudspeakers to deliver instructions during rescue operations.

As part of a new pilot project, the rescue department will also test a release mechanism that allows drones to drop self-inflating lifebuoys directly to people requiring assistance in the water.

Next February, the Icelandic government will submit a bill to permanently ban whaling, according to Reuters.

The proposal has political and public support, and the government holds a majority in parliament.

If the ban is passed, Norway and Japan will be the only remaining countries in the world that continue commercial whaling.

During this year's season in Iceland, 80 fin whales were caught out of a quota of 150. The fin whale is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the proposal is grounded in ethical, veterinary, and conservation reasons.

In the spring, Russian submarines simulated the deployment of new technology designed to disable critical undersea cables near Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. However, the Russian exercise was exposed and thwarted by Norway, the UK and the US, anonymous Western officials told Reuters.

More specifically, the exercise was reportedly conducted by Russia's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI).

In April, the UK and Norway announced that they had been monitoring Russian submarines from the Kola Peninsula that attempted to map underwater infrastructure in the North Atlantic. The discovery of the new weapon near Svalbard and the US involvement have not been previously reported.

In 2025, researchers at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research moved 20 catfish to artificial kelp forests in Melkøysundet outside Hammerfest, Northern Norway.

Nine of the fish have now been registered at the same location, indicating that they thrive in the artificial kelp forests.

The relocation experiment is part of the effort to restore the kelp forests along the northern Norwegian coast after they have been grazed down by sea urchins.

Sea urchins are a key part of the catfish's menu, and the catfish has therefore been returned to an area where it previously had an important function as a natural predator.

According to the institute, it will require studies over several years to determine whether the relocated catfish contribute to reducing the sea urchin population and the growth of new kelp forests.

"The next big question is whether we can achieve a high enough local density for the catfish to actually affect the ecosystem," says marine scientist Esben Moland Olsen.

On Tuesday, the Canadian government announced that it will invest 405 million Canadian dollars in the Mackenzie Valley Highway project in the Northwest Territories.

The investment is being made through an Arctic Infrastructure Fund, and represents an important step toward establishing a continuous all-season transportation connection between the village of Wrigley and the city of Norman Wells.

“Safe and dependable transportation infrastructure is essential to strong, connected communities across Canada’s North and Arctic. This investment will help build more dependable connections, strengthen supply chains, create economic opportunities and improve access to essential services," says Steven MacKinnon, Canadian Minister of Transport, continuing:

"Through the Arctic Infrastructure Fund, we are investing in infrastructure that responds to the needs of northern and Indigenous communities while strengthening Canada’s resilience, security and sovereignty in the Arctic.”

Last Wednesday, the Governor of Svalbard placed the Russian vessel “Professor Moltsjanov”, which was docked in Barentsburg on Svalbard, under arrest.

The following day, Russia’s ambassador Nikolay Korchunov announced that Russia would appeal the decision and demand the ship’s release.

On Monday morning, Hålogaland Court of Appeal and Nord-Troms and Senja District Court told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that no appeal has yet been filed in the case.

Greenland’s healthcare system is struggling with a severe shortage of doctors and nurses and is currently heavily dependent on healthcare professionals from Denmark.

On September 1st, a new scheme was launched to make it easier for Danish healthcare workers to take on temporary assignments in Greenland. The scheme aims to replace expensive staffing agencies by offering free accommodation and a 15 percent bonus, according to DR.

So far, only 23 full-time positions have been registered through the scheme - far short of the target of 100 placements.

The initiative has also sparked debate. Greenlandic nurses have criticised the bonus scheme for their Danish colleagues, while experts point out that the initiative is only a small first step towards addressing the chronic staffing crisis.