Iceland will vote on EU talks on 29 August

A report prepared for the Ministry of Finance on Iceland’s currency options has been published and discussed by the Central Bank governor, its lead author, and the Minister, reports RUV.

“The report authors’ assessment is that it would be a promising option for Iceland to adopt the euro if we choose to join the European Union,” says Daði Már Kristófersson, the Minister of Finance, about a report prepared for his ministry on Iceland’s options in currency matters.

Various politicians have argued agains the Euro-issue.

A new survey from Indikator Opinion for the Swedish Radio channel P4 shows that only 1 in 5 Swedes would consider moving north for work if they were offered 100,000 Swedish kroner (appr. 10,000 USD) in relocation assistance, reports Sveriges Radio.

The survey was conducted among a random sample of Swedes over the age of 18 and 2,044 people responded.

One of the questions was: Would you consider moving to Northern Sweden to work if you were offered a relocation allowance of SEK 100,000?

22 percent answered yes, 40 percent answered no, 13 percent did not know, and for 25 percent the question was not applicable (i.e. do not work/already live in Northern Sweden).

High North News has previously reported that the Swedish government will investigate a relocation allowance to make it easier for the unemployed to move to other parts of the country, including Northern Sweden.

On Monday, the Norwegian Polar Institute signed a renewed agreement on strengthened research collaboration with the Japanese National Institute of Polar Research.

The signing took place during a seminar in Tokyo, organized by Arctic Frontiers and the Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo, with a large Norwegian delegation present, the institute states in a press release.

The starting point for the seminar is the more than 120-year-long cooperation between Japan and Norway, and how to facilitate further cooperation on solutions to global challenges, with the Arctic in focus.

"The agreement we have now signed underlines our common foundation for further research in the polar regions and formalizes a long and valuable collaboration within logistics and research in both the Arctic and Antarctic," says Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute, Camilla Brekke.

Among the guests who attended the signing was His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway.

"The Arctic and the oceans are important elements in Norway's relations with Japan. Our cooperation on Arctic issues goes back several decades. Japan's research presence in Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard was established in 1991, and our academic institutions have collaborated closely on polar and ocean research for several decades, said Crown Prince Haakon in his speech.

Arctic temperatures over the next five winters are expected to be three and a half times higher than the global average, reaching 2.8 degrees above the average temperatures for 1991-2020, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization and the UK Met Office.

The report also predicts further reductions in sea ice concentration in the Barents Sea, Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in March (the time of maximum ice extent) over the next five years.

Arctic warming could also disrupt weather systems and prompt more severe weather events, especially in northern parts of the world, says Melissa Seabrook, a research scientist at the UK Met Office, to Reuters.

Eight US senators and their staff visited the Norwegian Arctic archipelago Svalbard last weekend. This is reported by Svalbardposten, among others.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski led the delegation, which was invited by UiT, the Arctic University of Norway.

"We are here with a bipartisan message about the importance of our allies, and Norway is obviously one of them. The challenges in the Arctic are enormous, the Arctic is an enormous region, and the United States cannot solve everything alone. It is important that we can work together with our allies to solve the challenges we have in the Arctic," Shaheen tells the newspaper.

According to Svalbardposten, the agenda included a presentation of Arctic climate research, as well as visits to Isfjord Radio and UNIS - the university centre in Svalbard.

"When we see the Arctic warming and new dangers emerging in the Arctic, it is very important for us to get a better understanding of what those challenges are and to ensure that we have a bipartisan understanding of what the United States can do," says Shaheen.

In connection with the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Helsingborg, Sweden on Friday, Arctic Allies in NATO issues a Joint Statement on Arctic security.

The Arctic Allies, which consist of Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the United States, and the Kingdom of Denmark including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, agree to deepen dialogue on security challenges in the Arctic and the High North.

"Recognizing the security challenges and economic opportunities in the Arctic and the High North, the Arctic Allies met to discuss our efforts to build a secure and prosperous region," the statement reads.

"The Arctic is quickly becoming a sphere of increasing geopolitical strategic importance. With Russia´s increased military activity and China´s growing strategic interest, we seek to bolster stability in the Arctic region."

It is furthermore noted that the Arctic Allies are enhancing military presence, surveillance capabilities, and joint training in the region. They furthermore emphasize that they do so in a coordinated and calibrated way.

"We support NATO’s increased presence in the region through activities such as Arctic Sentry, Air Policing in Iceland, and Forward Land Forces Finland, as well as the ongoing strengthening of the Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, a new CAOC in Norway and the ongoing modernization of NORAD."

"With new opportunities opening up, and new challenges emerging, close cooperation on Arctic security and economic development among our nations is more important than ever – as Europe and Canada are assuming a greater responsibility for deterrence and defense across the region."

The Arctic countries also recognize the importance of economic and resource development in the Arctic and have tasked experts to coordinate more closely on these issues, including research security, investment screening, and critical infrastructure modernization and protection.

"We look forward to continuing to work together to achieve our common goal of a secure, prosperous, and peaceful Arctic," the statement concludes.

This week, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, is visiting Nuuk to strengthen the EU's partnership with Greenland and discuss the update of the union's Arctic strategy.

Síkela is leading the work on the renewal of the strategy and has had meetings with Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Múte B. Egede, Naalakkersuisoq (Minister) for Foreign Affairs, Business and Mineral Resources.

This autumn, the European Commission proposed doubling support for Greenland in the Union's long-term budget for 2028-2034. The discussions have covered the EU's expected investment package and cooperation in fields such as sustainable value chains for raw materials, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and sustainable tourism.

The Commissioner has also met with local businesses and civil society representatives and is participating in the business conference Future Greenland 2026.

Over the past week, NATO has conducted the computer-assisted command post exercise Steadfast Deterrence, in which all allied command structure headquarters and 32 member states participated.

The exercise stress-tested NATO’s integrated military plans under the concept for deterrence and defense of the Euro-Atlantic Area, focusing on the Arctic and the High North.

"Steadfast Deterrence 2026 was designed to replicate the complexities in the Arctic and the High North, integrating real-world plans, cutting-edge simulation technologies and AI-enabled warfighting platforms," says Major General Ruprecht von Butler, Commander of NATO Joint Warfare Centre and the Exercise Director.

"Overall, the exercise played a major role in operationalizing NATO's Concept for Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area, demonstrating that we train to fight and win," Butler adds.

The Europe Forum 2026 will be held in Kiruna from 7 to 8 May.

Europaforum is Sweden's largest annual conference on EU issues. On 7–8 May, politicians, decision-makers and civil society actors from local, regional, national and EU levels will gather in Kiruna, Northern Sweden.

This year's conference focuses on how the situation on the ground affects EU policies in the areas of competitiveness, security, industrial transition and sustainable development. The program includes panel discussions and seminars.

Norway's role in the High North was central when General Alexsus G. Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), visited Norway last week.

“Norway holds a unique geostrategic position and plays a central role as NATO’s eyes and ears in the Arctic. We could not do our job without Norwegian support,” said Grynkewich.

After meetings in Oslo with the Norwegian chief of defense, prime minister and minister of defense, the general travelled to Bodø, Northern Norway, to visit NATO's new combined air operations centre. There he received first-hand briefings on how Norwegian and allied air forces operate together in the High North.

ALSO READ: CAOC Bodø Completes First Major Exercise as a Fully-Fledged NATO Headquarters

On Tuesday, the EU and Norway held their fifth security and defense dialogue in Oslo, where cooperation in the Arctic was among the topics.

"We agreed to reinforce our preparedness to tackle evolving security risks, including in the Arctic region, and enhance our cooperation on critical sectors needed for civil-military interaction," the parties said in a joint statement.

They also referred to a new framework for dialogue between the EU and Norway on the Arctic, with the first meeting taking place this spring.

The meeting was co-chaired by Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defence at the European External Action Service, and Eivind Vad Petersson, State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ALSO READ: EU Foreign Policy Chief in Northern Norway – Gathered Input for New Arctic Strategy

The Norwegian and Canadian coast guards have signed a new cooperation agreement, which will strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the Arctic.

The agreement was signed during the Arctic Coast Guard Forum in Copenhagen last week.

In a post on Facebook, the Norwegian Navy informs that the agreement facilitates increased and long-term cooperation in education, training and exchange of personnel.

This is part of a broader international effort to strengthen security, preparedness and situational awareness in the Arctic, it further states.

Other states that participated in the forum in Copenhagen were Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and the USA.

On Thursday this week, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that the first two Arctic Security Cutters will be homeported in the State of Alaska.

"Anticipating delivery of the first Arctic Security Cutters by the end of 2028, the Coast Guard has begun planning to ensure necessary infrastructure and support are in place to receive two icebreakers. Ensuring these vessels are supported by trained and ready crews, and ready homeport facilities including housing, will be essential to delivering full, enduring operational capability required to meet emerging Arctic security challenges," a press release from the USCG reads.

“Homeporting Arctic Security Cutters in Alaska underscores the United States’ leadership as a maritime power in the Arctic,” said Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commandant of the Coast Guard.

“By strategically positioning these state-of-the-art icebreakers in Alaska, the Coast Guard will maximize our ability to defend our northern border and approaches, while reinforcing America’s maritime dominance in a crucial region of strategic importance," Lunday added.

The homeporting of the first two Arctic Security Cutters in Alaska builds on the historic expansion of the Coast Guard’s icebreaker fleet and underscores an unprecedented investment in the Arctic, the press release states.

The announcement is furthermore described as a national milestone in U.S. Arctic capability, following contract awards for up to 11 Arctic Security Cutters.

On April 1st, Norwegian whalers could commence this year's minke whale hunt.

The quota is 1,641 animals, an increase of 235 from the previous year. Last year, 428 animals were caught.

10 vessels participated in last year's whaling. This year, 14 vessels have registered. So far, only "Reinebuen" from Lofoten in Northern Norway has begun the hunt, reports Lofotposten.

A new opinion poll from Iceland shows that more Icelanders oppose EU membership than are in favor, writes RUV Iceland.

According to the poll, 47% of the population is against Iceland joining the EU, while 40% are positive. Thirteen percent are undecided.

When only those who actually take a position are counted, 54% are against Iceland joining the EU, compared to 46% in favor, the survey suggests.

Support has fallen by four percentage points, from 44 percent in April last year, while opposition has increased by eleven points from 36 percent in the same period.

This year's physical edition of the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable (ASFR) was held in Iceland at the end of March.

The forum – co-chaired by Norway and the US European Command – brings together senior military leaders from the seven allied Arctic states, as well as from the observer states of France, the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Also present were representatives of the US Northern Command and NATO JFC Norfolk, which has now been granted permanent observer status in ASFR.

The military leaders exchanged views on security challenges in the Arctic, with a focus on building shared situational awareness and coordinated approaches to deterrence and defense in the region. The NATO Arctic Sentry initiative was highlighted in this context.

They also visited Keflavík Air Station and gained insight into Iceland's defense-related roles and responsibilities. Last year's conference took place in Kirkenes, Northern Norway.

The European Capital of Culture year in Oulu, Northern Finland, opened in January. Now, Oulu2026 announces that the ambitious E75 Art Bus will soon will depart from city’s town hall.

On April 9th, the rolling art festival will begin its journey through 20 cities and villages along Europe’s eastern edge (the E75 road). While the southernmost stop is in Crete, Greece, the art bus will round off its journey at the Finnmark coast, Northern Norway, with festivities in Vardø on May 16th.

At the various locations, artists on the bus will create performances, exhibitions, workshops and discussions around topics such as democracy, the climate crisis, diversity, and community.

Among them is a dancer who sheds light on folk dance as a form of resistance, a ceramic artist who collects people's sorrows across Europe to release them into the Barents Sea, as well as a media artist who researches migration and invites the audience to sing with birds.

The project connects people, cultures and perspectives from the Arctic to the Mediterranean in a time when contact, mobility and hope are more important than ever, writes Oulu2026.

There are no signs that the eruption sequence on Sundhnúksgígaröð, on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, is coming to an end - despite the slow speed of magma accumulation, RUV reports.

Magma intrusions and eruptions remain the most likely scenario on the Reykjanes Peninsula, according to a statement from Veðurstofa Íslands (Icelandic Meteorological Office) issued alongside a new hazard assessment for the area, valid until June.

Thirteen conscripts suffered frostbite during an exercise in Norrbotten, Northern Sweden, in February after the heater in their tent stopped working, according to SVT.

The number of people affected by frostbite in the Swedish defense sector has increased significantly this winter.

During the first two months of the year, 134 cases of frostbite were reported. In comparison, 47 cases of frostbite were reported in all of 2025.