Russia’s First Homebuilt Arc7 LNG Carrier Completes Ice Trials, Adds to Arctic Traffic Off Norway Russia’s new carrier for liquefied natural gas,Alexey Kosygin, has completed a Northern Sea Route transit doubling as ice trials, underscoring Moscow’s ability to sustain Arctic LNG exports despite sanctions. The voyage expands Russia’s shadow tanker fleet and heightens maritime safety concerns for Norway.
Nominations Now Open for the High North Hero Award 2026 The "High North Hero" award will soon be awarded during the High North Dialogue conference in Bodø, northern Norway. The committee is now looking for worthy candidates.
Researcher on Trump's Framework Deal: Expects Two Simultaneous Negotiation Processes US President Donald Trump and NATO's Secretary General have discussed the framework of a future deal on Greenland and the Arctic region. Defense researcher Marc Jacobsen believes that this will entail two related deals; the first within the NATO framework – and the second between the US and the Kingdom of Denmark.
A Break From the Madness Dear reader. While Donald Trump is wreaking havoc on NATO and the Nordic region, the Northern Norwegian football club Bodø/Glimt provided a much-needed break from great-power politics and threats.
Trump: Seeks Immediate Negotiations to Discuss the Acqusition of Greenland US President Donald Trump continues to iterate the need for the US to have Greenland, but says he "won't use force".
Arctic Football Team Bodø/Glimt With Historic Champions League Win Against Manchester City Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): On Tuesday, Bodø/Glimt became the first Arctic team to win a Champions League match. Glimt stunned the guests from Manchester with a 3-1 win.
Competition Launch: Win Up to 40,000 NOK for Your Arctic Start-up Last year, a company from northern Norway won the prestigious award. Now the search begins for this year's finalists for the High North Young Entrepreneur award.
Russian ‘Zombie Tanker’ Sails Up Norwegian Coastline After Being Blocked by German Police Germany has taken the unprecedented step of barring a notorious “zombie tanker” from its Baltic waters after uncovering forged registration and serious safety concerns. The aging shadow-fleet vesselTavianhas since sailed north past Norway toward the Arctic, highlighting the growing risks and cat-and-mouse dynamics of Russia’s sanctions-evasion oil trade.
EU Spent €7.2 Billion On Russian LNG in 2025, Maximizing Imports Before 2027 Ban Europe keeps buying Russian fuel without any noticeable slowdown with less than 12 months remaining before an EU ban on the import of Russian LNG takes effect. Highlighting the ineffectiveness of existing EU half-measures, including the transshipment ban, Belgium more than doubled its imports from Yamal LNG in 2025, simply keeping LNG once the re-export ban took effect.
In a Squeeze Between Great Powers Dear reader. The pressure on Greenland is increasing, and the small island community in Svalbard is also beginning to feel the gravity of the situation. Here is the latest news from the High North.
Canada To Open Consulate in Nuuk, Greenland In February, Canada will open a consulate in Greenland. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Governor General Mary Simon are expected to be in Nuuk for the opening.
South Korea Plans First Arctic Container Ship Test Voyage via Russia’s Northern Sea Route South Korea is preparing its first-ever container ship voyage through Russia’s Northern Sea Route, testing whether Arctic shipping can reshape Asia–Europe trade. The trial highlights Seoul’s ambitions to turn Busan into an Arctic hub, despite sanctions risks, high insurance costs and lingering geopolitical uncertainty.
A New Year With the World's Eyes on the Arctic Dear reader. The year 2026 started with a bang, and even we who cover the High North are struggling to keep up with the sudden geopolitical developments. In fact, we find ourselves in a place that is a bit too reminiscent of a fateful February four years ago.
White House Draws Up Plans to Acquire Greenland as Trump Revives Territorial Ambitions Donald Trump’s fixation on Greenland has entered a dangerous new phase with the White House actively drawing up acquisition plans, calling it a "national security priority." As U.S. actions in Venezuela reframe what Washington may be willing to do, European allies fear rhetoric is turning into policy. Even prediction markets like Polymarket are betting on Trump’s actions vis-à-vis Greenland.
U.S. Signs Contracts With Foreign and Domestic Builders to Finally Launch Long-Delayed Icebreaker Fleet Overhaul The United States Coast Guard has signed contracts with Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions and Louisiana’s Bollinger Shipyards to build six Arctic Security Cutter icebreakers, marking the culmination of a decades-long effort to modernize its aging icebreaker fleet. Two ships will be built in Finland for delivery in 2028. Four more vessels will follow in the United States, with the first domestic cutter due in 2029.
Russia Delivers First Domestically Assembled Arc7 LNG Carrier After Years of Sanctions Delays Russia has completed its first domestically assembled Arc7 LNG carrier after years of sanctions-driven delays, offering a rare boost to Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project but underscoring the deep challenges still facing Russia’s shipbuilding ambitions. The vessel will double the project’s winter export capacity.
The Top Ten Stories of 2025 The readers are clear: The flow of Russian gas, Trump's claim to Greenland, and warfare are among the 10 most important stories of 2025.
Norway and Russia Have Reached a Fisheries Agreement for 2026 After much uncertainty regarding this year's fisheries negotiations, Norway and Russia reached a fisheries agreement for 2026 on Thursday. The parties have agreed on a continued decline in the quota for the important cod in the Barents Sea, among other things.
Happy Holidays Dear reader. It might be a bit early for holiday greetings, but this is our final newsletter for the year, so we'll take the chance. This past week has been characterized by Denmark's brutal honesty in its perspective on the USA. We also have an interesting scientist profile and the latest climate research news.
Russia’s Arctic Shipping Route Turns Into “Dark Fleet” Corridor Used by 100 Sanctioned Vessels One third of Arctic shipping traffic along the Northern Sea Route involves sanctioned vessels of Russia’s shadow fleet, a new report warns. The figures include 38 sanctioned oil tankers, often poorly maintained and insured and frequently without ice-classification. Russian officials have also stopped publishing data about activity on the route, further reducing available information and increasing risk.
EU Supports Laid-Off Northvolt Workers With EUR 8.5 Million The EU and Swedish authorities will provide financial aid to laid-off Northvolt workers in Sweden following the battery manufacturer's bankruptcy.
Danish Intelligence Warns U.S. “Hemispheric Approach” Raises Arctic Security Uncertainty A sharper U.S. focus on its “immediate region” and the hemispheric approach of Washington’s new National Security Strategy has created doubts in Copenhagen about America’s long-term role in the Arctic. Denmark’sOutlook 2025concludes that this strategic shift could leave the region more exposed amid rising Russian and Chinese military activity.
Northern Sea Route 2025 Season Concludes With Stable Transit Traffic Amid Challenging Ice Conditions The 2025 summer–autumn navigation season on Russia’s Northern Sea Route wrapped up with 103 transit voyages moving an estimated 3.2 million tons of cargo. While tanker traffic continued to dominate, bulk carriers and container ships posted notable gains, all against a backdrop of unfavorable ice conditions that limited the open-water window.
An Uncertain Time Dear reader. The final weeks before Christmas are colored by increased militarization and uncertainty regarding the Norwegian-Russian fisheries negotiations. Yet, underneath all this, important research is still taking place and you can read about it at High North News. Here is the latest news from the North.
Norway to Expand Submarine Fleet With Two Additional German-Built Boats to Counter Rising Russian Threat The Norwegian government supports the acquisition of two additional submarines from Germany, boosting its order with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to six boats; a move intended to strengthen Norway’s deterrence and surveillance capacity in the North Atlantic and Barents Sea.
Arctic Receives No Mention in New White House National Security Strategy, But U.S. Polar Engagement Remains The Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy omits a dedicated Arctic section, unlike its 2022 predecessor, but experts say the shift reflects a hemispheric approach—not neglect—with icebreaker acquisitions and the ICE Pact signaling continued U.S. engagement and strategic focus on the North American Arctic.
NATO Updates Command Structure, Integrating the Nordics under JFC Norfolk All of the Nordic countries are now officially placed under the responsibility of NATO's High North-focused command, JFC Norfolk.
The Ripple Effects of the War Dear reader. An update of the EU's Arctic policy could have a major impact on Norway, which is not a member. Here is the latest news from the High North.
The Fight for the Arctic Dear reader. Should we be happy with the status quo or continue to fight for more? This week's newsletter offers ideas and stories from the Arctic in the form of the Arctic Council's latest podcast episode, a unique Finnish mayor, and Greenlandic wolf hybrids. Here is the latest news from the North.
We Went to Greenland When the Noise Had Quieted Down Dear reader. International media have been quiet about Greenland ever since the journalists, who were led in droves by Donald Trump, went back home. We went to Greenland to gauge the mood after the noise had quieted down.
Nordic Defense Ministers and Chiefs of Defense Gathered to Enhance Joint Combat Power All Nordic defense ministers and chiefs of defense recently met in Helsinki. A key topic was the development of air forces capable of combined operations. “This is important for strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense in the High North,” says Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Minister of Defense.
Northern Nordic Military Leaders Gathered to Bolster Cooperation The commanders of Norway, Finland and Sweden's northern brigades and home guard forces recently met in Troms, Northern Norway, to forge even closer ties. “This cooperation significantly improves our defense capabilities in the North,” says Terje Bruøygard, Commander of the Norwegian Brigade North.
Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in Svalbard – More Work is Needed in The Tourism Sector
NOK 2.6 million Project Aims to Get More Young People to Stay in The North The High North Center at Nord University receives support for a project highlighting opportunities for young people in the Arctic.
Germany Signals Green Light to Exit Yamal LNG Deal Under EU’s 19th Sanctions Package Germany may invoke “force majeure” to exit Yamal LNG deal. The EU’s 19th sanctions package provides state-owned SEFE legal cover to exit the Russian LNG contract, Germany says. The news is the first concrete step of long-term purchase agreements being unwound, signaling the beginning of the end for Russian gas exports to Europe.
This Way Up! Dear Reader. We proudly present the first Arctic Council podcast, “This Way Up”, a positive innovation from and about the Arctic. If there is one thing we need right now, it is stories from those who live here at a time when cooperation and dialogue are increasingly difficult. Here is the latest news from the high north.
Russia’s LNG ‘Dark Fleet’ Returns to Norwegian Waters As Winter Closes Northern Sea Route With sea ice closing the Northern Sea Route often poorly insured shadow fleet vessels are again using the ice-free waters of the Barents Sea. A sanctioned LNG carrier traveled up and down Norway’s northern coast in recent days. Several more are set to follow.
Light in the Polar Night Dear reader. We are pleased to present a new podcast collaboration with the Arctic Council. Arne O. Holm goes viral with his new comment, we have met 11 defense ministers and participated in a debate about security in the High North News. Here is yet another eventful week in the North.
Summit in the North: Agreed on Enhanced Partnership with Ukraine Bodø (High North News): Eleven defense ministers met in Bodø, Northern Norway, this week to discuss cooperation in the Joint Expeditionary Force coalition. There, the countries signed an agreement on an enhanced partnership with Ukraine.
Icebreakers and Defense on Top Icebreakers, a naval corridor and the Finnish Jaegerbrigade are the most popular stories in High North News in October.
U.S. Icebreaker Healy Wraps up Four-Month Patrol of Arctic, Countering Growing Chinese Presence U.S. Coast Guard icebreakersHealyandStorisconducted 129-day and 112-day Arctic deployments this summer. A substantial presence increase over previous summers. Both vessels monitored growing vessel activity in the region with five Chinese research vessels operating in the waters around Alaska.
