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.
Scientists Will Freeze Into the Arctic Ice for Research Next year, a crew of up to 18 will drift across the Arctic Ocean in the newTara Polar Stationresearch vessel while collecting data and knowledge about the sea ice and the Arctic Ocean.
Denmark, Greenland and Iceland's Reactions To Trump Oslo (High North News): "Just a year and a half ago, Greenland's foreign policy strategy was basically one big invitation to the US for cooperation. Then Trump destroyed the trust and interest from Greenland," says Ulrik Pram Gad, Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies.
Extensive Training Activity in the High North With US Carrier Strike Group The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has recently been training with Norwegian and other allied forces off the coast of Northern Norway. "Our partnership with US forces is close despite changes in US security policy," says the Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.
Arctic Light 2025: Denmark to Hold Military Exercise in Greenland with NATO Allies On Tuesday, the Danish Armed Forces will commence a major exercise in Greenland, with contributions from France, Germany, Sweden and Norway. The aim is to strengthen Denmark and NATO’s operational readiness in the region, as well as provide support for civil preparedness.
French Foreign Minister in Nuuk: "France Stands By Greenland" The French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot visited Nuuk this weekend to demonstrate France's solidarity with Greenland and Denmark, as well as to develop cooperation with the Greenlandic government.
France Ready for Joint Arctic Exercises, Will Open Consulate Says Macron During Visit to Greenland France is ready to step up its engagement in the Arctic through joint exercises and economic and social partnerships, French President Macron announced during a visit in Nuuk. The country will also open a general consulate in the Greenlandic capital. During a press conference Macron rebuked repeated statements made by U.S. President Trump about acquiring Greenland.
France Ready for Joint Arctic Exercises, Will Open Consulate Says Macron During Visit to Greenland France is ready to step up its engagement in the Arctic through joint exercises and economic and social partnerships, French President Macron announced during a visit in Nuuk. The country will also open a general consulate in the Greenlandic capital. During a press conference Macron rebuked repeated statements made by U.S. President Trump about acquiring Greenland.
France Ready for Joint Arctic Exercises, Will Open Consulate Says Macron During Visit to Greenland France is ready to step up its engagement in the Arctic through joint exercises and economic and social partnerships, French President Macron announced during a visit in Nuuk. The country will also open a general consulate in the Greenlandic capital. During a press conference Macron rebuked repeated statements made by U.S. President Trump about acquiring Greenland.
France’s President to Visit Greenland The French President Emmanuel Macron will go on an official visit to Greenland on June 15th. Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, will also participate in the visit. Security in the North Atlantic and the Arctic are at the top of the agenda.
Formidable Shield 2025: "One of NATO's Most Important Deterrence Exercises This Year" Today, around 2,500 soldiers from ten NATO nations began a highly relevant air and missile defense exercise at Andøya, Northern Norway. "The war in Ukraine shows the significance of being able to protect the airspace," says spokesperson at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.
Formidable Shield 2025: "One of NATO's Most Important Deterrence Exercises This Year" Today, around 2,500 soldiers from ten NATO nations began a highly relevant air and missile defense exercise at Andøya, Northern Norway. "The war in Ukraine shows the significance of being able to protect the airspace," says spokesperson at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.
Arctic Military Leaders Met Near the Norway-Russia Border: Discussed Hybrid Threats Last week, the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable was held in Kirkenes, Northern Norway, focusing on grey zone threats. "It is important to create understanding among our close allies about how the security situation in the Arctic is perceived in a turbulent and uncertain time," says the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Joint Viking 2025: 10,000 Soldiers From 9 Nations Exercise Defending Northern Norway This year's largest military exercise in Norway kicked off on Monday. Norwegian forces are now practicing on countering military threats in the North – reinforced by allies from Western Europe and North America. "Even more important in light of today’s uncertain security situation," says Deputy Commander of Norway's Joint Headquarters.
Joint Viking 2025: 10,000 Soldiers From 9 Nations Exercise Defending Northern Norway This year's largest military exercise in Norway kicked off on Monday. Norwegian forces are now practicing on countering military threats in the North – reinforced by allies from Western Europe and North America. "Even more important in light of today’s uncertain security situation," says Deputy Commander of Norway's Joint Headquarters.
Norway and France Forge Closer Defense Ties With an View to the High North Norway and France recently signed a letter of intent on enhanced defense cooperation, emphasizing the significance of situational awareness and presence in the High North. "Protecting the maritime areas in Northern Europe is the key to European security," says the French minister of defense.
Russian Arctic LNG Carrier Out of Commission Following Maintenance Struggles, Underscores Key Role of EU Yards Russia’s fleet of ice-capable LNG carriers keeps the gas flowing to Europe. But now one of the vessels,Christophe de Margerie,is out of commission as it struggles to receive maintenance and spare parts in European shipyards.
Norway Explores Strategic Partnership With France, the UK, Germany, and the US on Frigates Norway is to acquire new frigates in a strategic partnership with a close ally possessing coinciding strategic interests and an eye for the High North. France, the UK, Germany, and the US have now been selected as possible partner countries, says the Norwegian MoD.
How Danish and French Yards Keep Russia's LNG Fleet Afloat Russian LNG continues to flow into Europe at record levels. Two shipyards in France and Denmark provide key dry dock services to keep the Yamal LNG fleet maintained. Since February 2022, 14 out of 15 ice-class LNG vessels in service of the project have traveled to either Damen Shiprepair in France or Fayard A/S in Denmark.
Northern Viking: Practicing the Defense of Iceland and Sea Routes in the North Atlantic On Monday, the US-led defense exercise Northern Viking kicked off in Iceland. Allied forces and Icelandic preparedness agencies are practicing securing critical national infrastructure and the sea lines of communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.
Spain and Belgium Buy Russian Arctic Gas at Record Rate, Officials Unsure How to Stop Imports European countries continue to buy more than half of Russia’s gas production. Throughout 2023 Spain emerged as a major importer surpassing previous record buyers France and Belgium, without concerted European effort to reduce import volumes. Norway also continues to expand its LNG portfolio, including to destinations outside the EU.
The French Navy Strongly Present for Surveillance and Deterrence in the North Bodø (High North News): In January, the French frigate Bretagne patrols northern waters, including a pitstop in Bodø, Northern Norway. “We are here to strengthen NATO’s deterrent posture in the High North,” says Commander Senior Grade Jean-Michel Pimbert.
Frequent Submarine Calls in Tromsø – New US Nuclear Submarine on Logistical Stop On Monday, the American submarine USS Washington docked in the Port of Grøtsund, Tromsø in Northern Norway. This is the eighth allied submarine visit at the port this year – and takes place shortly after the call of USS Florida, as well as the French submarine FNS Améthyste.
“Security in the Arctic is of Greatest Interest to France,” says French Commander The French Navy's nuclear submarine and support vessel which recently docked in Tromsø, Northern Norway, have carried out long-term missions in the North Atlantic. This shows France's allied commitment to security in northern areas and desire to learn more about them, asserts French Commander.
Large Army and Navy Exercises in the Nordic Region This Late Fall In these times, this fall's most extensive exercises for land and naval forces are being carried out in Northern Norway, Eastern Finland, and the Gulf of Finland.
Finnish and French Fighter Aircrafts Train Together in Northern Finland The exercise provides French fighter pilots the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Finnish Air Force and the Arctic conditions in the High North.
Russian LNG to Europe Flies Under Radar; France’s TotalEnergies Continues Imports from Arctic Whereas imports of natural gas via pipeline have decreased substantially, the flow of Russian LNG into Europe continues unabated, with large volumes shipped by French major TotalEnergies.
Macron´s twofold Arctic policy to gain influence in the Arctic Commentary: France is drumbeating an environmental cause as part of a wider geopolitical strategy to gain more influence over Arctic decision making in the future.
World-famous Vendée Globe Sailing Race Heads to Arctic Ocean The Vendée Globe, a world-famous solo non-stop yacht race around the world, sets off on a special preparatory and qualifying event to the Arctic next week. It will be the first major yacht race to cross into the Arctic Ocean.
Nato Trembles, Clings to the Hope That Trump Is Not Re-Elected French President Emmanuel Macron launches a fierce attack on NATO’s ability to defend Europe. As expected, both Jens Stoltenberg and Angela Merkel object. The problem is just that their more optimistic analysis of the defense alliance rests on a dream that Donald Trump is not re-elected as US president.
You Discipline the One You Love Rome: Living in the Arctic is kind of like being the most popular girl or boy in class, yet also the one to be chastised the most by the classmates. – The Lord disciplines the ones he loves, as it says in Hebrews.
- Claiming That the Arctic is Not A Regulated Area is Most Incorrect. The Truth is Rather Opposite. State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Audun Halvorsen says the MFA spends vast resources informing the international debate about the Arctic about factual matters.
French and Danish Navies Hold Joint SAR Exercises in Greenland’s Waters As Greenland madeinternational headlineslast month, the French Navy took part for the second year in a row to an Arctic search and rescue exercise organized by the Danish Joint Arctic Command off Greenland’s coastal waters in Qaqortoq, Nuuk and Uummannaq.
