Fisheries Negotiations Between Norway and Russia Has Started This week, the Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission will meet for digital fisheries negotiations for the important stocks in the Barents Sea. This year's process regarding the negotiations has been more demanding than in the past.
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.
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.
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.
VIDEO: High North News Aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Watch some of the highlights from High North News' visit to the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford. The American aircraft carrier operated in the North Sea in connection with the NATO activity, Neptune Strike 25-3.
Security for Our Sea Lanes of Communication in the High North Op-ed: US Army Veteran and Historian Mike Thornton takes a look at the vulnerability of the High North's undersea cables and the dangers of hybrid warfare. "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance," he writes in this op-ed.
The World of Yesterday: Time for a Joint Nordic Approach to the High North European unity has never been more important than since the end of the Cold War. It is time for the Nordic states to amplify their focus on the High North.
"More Important Than Ever to Discuss the Future of The High North" The High North Dialogue conference is coming up in Bodø at the end of March. "This year’s conference is more important than ever", says the project manager.
Increased Norwegian Quota for the Minke Whale This year, 1,406 minke whales can be caught in Norwegian waters. This is an increase of 249 from 2024. "The Norwegian whaling is strictly regulated, and the minke whale population is in very good condition," says Norway’s minister of fisheries.
Norway to Consider the Future of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council as Finland Withdraws Finland recently announced its withdrawal from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council after 2025. "From the Norwegian side, we will assess the path forward for the council together with the remaining members," says State Secretary Maria Varteressian in Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
US Aircraft Carrier Truman Trains With Norwegian Forces in the High North The USS Harry S. Truman and its fighters are now conducting interoperability training with Norwegian forces in Northern Norway. "This demonstrates our allies’ ability and willingness to defend Norwegian areas of interest in the North,” says the Commander of the 132nd Air Wing at Ørland Air Station.
First Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue: "Key to a Safer Future For Us in The Region" In the very first strategic dialogue between Canada and the Nordic countries, which took place in New York and Nunavut, Canada, the six Arctic nations agreed to face the ever-changing geopolitical challenges together by strengthening Canada's security relationship with Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.
Norway's Response to the Gravity: Four Main Measures to Strengthen the Armed Forces The Norwegian government has proposed a new long-term plan on defense. At the top of the agenda is reinforcing the navy, land forces and air defense as well as situational awareness, particularly in the North. “A stronger national defense will contribute to deter those who might wish to threaten our sovereignty,’ says the PM.
Norwegian PM: Shares the Total Preparedness Commission's Understanding of Severity Bodø (High North News): "I agree with the Total Preparedness Commission that the situation is severe," says Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre. At the same time, he does not consider the situation acute and emphasizes a systematic, more long-term approach to preparedness in the North. Nor will he hand out war-preparatory leaflets à la the Swedish ones.
Norwegian MFA: Low Tension in the High North Should Still Be Our Aim Balancing between deterrence and reassurance is still important in the Norwegian security policy – and low tension in the North is still something to aim for, says Norwegian MFA Anniken Huitfeldt at the Russia Conference on Tuesday.
Russian Fishing Vessels Now Only Allowed Access to Three Northern Norwegian Ports – And Will Be Controlled at Each Docking The Norwegian government has decided that Russian fishing vessels will only be allowed to dock in Kirkenes, Båtsfjord, and Tromsø. They will also be inspected upon arrival. "We now have intel which indicates a need to increase control of these," says the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"Taking Part in NATO’s Defense Planning in the High North Will Strenghten Security" A Finnish NATO-membership means taking part in NATO’s common defense planning on the northern flank. That would strenghten security in the High North, Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto says to High North News.
Norwegian Army Practicing Sharpshooting in the High North This week, the Norwegian Army’s sharpshooting exercise Thunderbolt takes place in Finnmark, Norway. Similar exercise activity was recently conducted in Troms with British participation.
Allied Maritime Sharpshooting Exercise Started Monday off Andøy Island, Norway This week, eight marine vessels from Norway, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands are to practice sharpshooting in North Norwegian waters off Andøy Island during the Mjølner exercise. The Norwegian army is also to participate in the exercise for the first time, using its new combat air defense.
Danish Missile Test Launch in the Night Before Thursday, New Allied Marine Exercise in the North Coming Up In the night leading up to Thursday, the Danish frigate Niels Juel tested its new air defense missile in a training area off the coast of Andøya Island in Northern Norway, the Danish defense reports. Next week, this vessel along with other allied frigates are to exercise in the North.
First British Nuclear Submarine Docking in Tromsø The British Navy’s nuclear submarine HMS Ambush is currently docked at Grøtsund port just outside Tromsø, after having operated in Norwegian waters for the past month. The Navy claims it wants to familiarize itself with Norwegian facilities for submarines in the Arctic.
The Government Increases Sea, Land, and Intelligence Activity in the North The Norwegian defense capacity in the High North is to be strengthened through immediate measures due to facing a changed security policy context, the Norwegian government states in a new whitepaper on defense.
The US Continues Training in Northern Norway: Large Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Tromsø The allied winter training continues in Northern Norway with forces from the US Marine Corps. "For Norway, this is a very important allied unit", says Lieutenant General Yngve Odlo, Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.
Dnipro is Putin’s Rubicon: A Norwegian Perspective Putin has, utterly through his own actions, insisted on becoming a global problem and the dictator has, through remorseless violence in a senseless war, prepared his own downfall, argues Lars Rowe, PhD and Norwegian historian of Soviet and Russian history.
Russian Troop Relocation Indicates Little Interest in Expanding the Conflict to the High North Russia has signaled that it wants to limit the geographical conflict area to Ukraine. Parts of the Russian land forces from the Kola Peninsula have been transferred to Ukraine. That indicates that Russia currently does not envision an expansion of the conflict to the North, military analysts say to High North News.
High North Expert: “The Norwegian-Russian Border Relationship will not Necessarily be Hard Hit” “I do not believe that what is happening in Ukraine right now will necessarily have a strong direct effect on the border relationship between Norway and Russia”, says High North Researcher Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen. At the same time, he points out that in a worst-case scenario, the conflict potential in the High North is large.
Ukraine Conflict: Maritime Areas in the High North Vulnerable if Situation Escalates Russia is unlikely to be interested in spreading its attention in other strategic directions for now. But if escalation occurs to involve NATO, Russia may aim at controlling parts of the Barents Sea, as protecting the strategic submarines are among its top priorities, says Professor Katarzyna Zysk at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies.
In the Arctic, East and West Still Meet for Dialogue Commentary: We are bombarded daily with contradicting news messages from the Ukraine conflict. As northerners, we are pretty much the only ones to face the threat of war face to face. On Wednesday, the Kirkenes conference kicks off with a meeting between Norway and Russia on a high political level.
Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre: We Cannot Leave an Empty Void on the Border to Russia and the Arctic A continuing drop in population figures for the North is a major security policy challenge, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor) in his High North speech in Tromsø, Norway last Thursday.
The High North Moved from Its Foreign Policy Cradle into A Municipal Care Home for the Elderly Commentary: One of the former Norwegian Solberg government’s most visible High North initiatives was the subsidizing of rich Norwegians who wanted to move to Bø municipality in Vesterålen in order to save taxes, as the local wealth tax was drastically cut. The other day, however, skiing legend Bjørn Dæhlie left this North Norwegian base to move both himself and his money to Switzerland. In return, we got PM Jonas Gahr Støre – with quite different visions for the High North.
Norway Pulled Stronger into Great Power Rivalry between the USA and Russia, Argues Defense Researcher American military presence near the Norwegian-Russian border area does not necessarily increase Norway’s security, argues Professor at the Norwegian Defense University College, Lieutenant Colonel Tormod Heier.
Increased Militarization of the High North is No Guarantee for Peace and Stability Commentary: The High North is Norway’s most important peace project, if we are to believe the government platform. In a time when MP’s need police assistance to find out where they actually live, it is perhaps too much to ask that they can find the road to peace and low tension in the Arctic.
Now, the Future of Svalbard is Decided from a State Employee Office on the Mainland Commentary: How to help a business sector that is on its knees following the pandemic? According to the Norwegian state, this is best done through introducing new regulations at breakneck pace, regulations that are to be commented on and worked into new business models. We are in Svalbard, where nothing is as it was, nor how it should become.
Norwegian Defense Minister: Important to have Better Dialogue with Russia Norway’s defense policy towards the USA will largely be the same as under the previous government, says Norway’s new Defense Minister Odd Roger Enoksen (Center Party) to High North News. He also stresses the importance of having closer dialogue with Russia.
Everybody Wants Something in the High North. But What Exactly Do They Want? (Commentary) Rome/Bodø: Everybody wants something with the High North, but do they really know what they want? Is it possible at all to find a pattern behind the pompous words embracing people and business in the Arctic? I have been traveling the north for some time now, and I doubt their will less than their abilities.
Lavrov: We Do Not Have Relations with NATO, but We Have with Norway Bilateral security consultations between Norway and Russia should be elevated to defense minister level, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Monday, he met Norway’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt in Tromsø and invited her to Russia.
First, We Bombed Them to Pieces. Then We Build Walls to Keep Them Out Commentary: First, we bomb them to pieces. Afterwards, we build walls to keep us in and them out. I feel the green branch I am sitting on swaying perilously.
Professor Argues Tourists Must Meet Demands: “Tourism Must Take Part in Local Traditions and Culture” Arctic societies want and need tourism. “But we must place demands on the tourist industry so that we do not end up with a Canary Islands logic in which tourists believe they are entitled at the expense of local culture, nature and traditions”, argues Professor Frank Lindberg at Nord University.
NATO Summit: Little Reference to the Arctic, but Region Still on the Radar “Expectations for Arctic coverage from NATO are rather new”, explains Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan at Deakin University.
The USA Will Not Leave Europe Even Though China is a Priority Increased focus on China and Asia leads to the USA’s having to adjust its military activity, which it is already doing in the High North, explains Professor Øystein Tunsjø at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies.
The Green Shift Needs the Mineral Industry, Says Linda Haukland (KrF) “If we are to continue having a technological development, we will have to extract the metals needed for mobile phones, electric cars, windmills, and batteries”, says Nordland County Councilor for Planning and Industry Linda Haukland.
We Cannot Let Myths Control Development in the High North (Commentary) Gratangsfjellet, Norway: The story about Northern Norway is, like all knowledge dissemination, a mixture of myths and facts. One of the myths is that we are short of jobs for those who want to live up north.
Arctic Ambassadors Summit at High North Dialogue 2021 "The fact that all the Arctic countries attend and are willing to face each other before an audience says something about their will to keep the dialogue running despite new challenges in the north", says Arne O. Holm, Editor-in-Chief at High North News.
Norwegian Defense Chief Eirik Kristoffersen: “Dialogue May Lead to Solutions” “The government manages defense and security politics in Norway. Based on what political solutions it arrives at, I am ready to participate in the dialogues that prove possible to arrange”, says Norwegian Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen regarding a potential resuming of meetings between the top Arctic military leaders.
Northern Sea Route Transit Traffic Remains Modest As Arctic shipping activity is increasing, transit traffic on the Northern Sea Route has not taken off, contrary to past predictions.
Japanese Scientists Create Board Game About a Changing Arctic A project hosted by the Japanese National Institute of Polar Research recently released a role-playing game that takes place in the Arctic.
2021 Will be Another Year With Mostly Digital Arctic Conferences "The good meetings that take place in person, whether it is over a cup of coffee, or sitting down one-on-one with somebody, those are lost. And I look forward to these meetings once the pandemic is over", says Anu Fredrikson, Executive Director of Arctic Frontiers.
