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Newsletter from the editor:
Greetings From the Island of Ice and Fire
Reykjavik: I am in Reykjavik to report from the largest conference in the Arctic, on the geopolitical significance of the region. We also have exclusive news from NATO, reports on Russia’s Northern Sea Route and energy, and coverage of the business sector in Svalbard.
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I find myself in Reykjavik, Iceland, to attend and cover the annually Arctic Circle Assembly. This year will be focused on USA, Greenland, Canada, China and EU with a side of science, defense and business.
The title of the conference is “The New Geopolitical Significance of the Arctic”. But speaking for the Norwegian Arctic, or the Nordic for that matter, this matter is hardly “new” anymore.
To prepare, both mentally and physically, I took my usual road trip to enjoy the islands deeply fascinating nature and ever shifting landscape. What can I say? The fumes of sulfur rising from the soil grounds me.
I will be sure to post some photos on our social media platform later, once I come up for air.
Other than what will come out of the conference, we offer a wide range og Arctic news, starting with defense as HNN journalist Hilde Bye met general Nick Perry at Nato's Arctic HQ in USA. Perry is the first British officer to take up the post as Commander of Joint Force Command Norfolk.
News from Russia’s Northern Sea Route:
A South Korean container ship has completed a roundtrip Northern Sea Route transit without an icebreaker escort.
And a new analysis finds that three locations handled at least 77% of Russia’s sanctioned Arctic crude exports since 2022, while AIS visibility around key storage vessels has fallen sharply.
Lastly, we have covered the Norwegian State Budget proposal: Commentator Arne O. Holm writes about both the budget and the Epstein hearing in his comment.
In total, the Norwegian government plans to spend NOK 191.7 billion on the defense sector in next year's national budget. Among other things, the government adds funds towards further developing emergency preparedness, and there will be more money for Svalbard.
From the business side, Longyearbyen's first self-developed public business plan has been adopted.
Read this and more at High North News and do follow us on social media.
Regards from the Island of ice and fire,
Editor in Chief, Trine Jonassen
