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.
NATO Should Follow Up Success on the Eastern Flank in the Arctic, says UK Foreign Secretary Bardufoss, Northern Norway (High North News): NATO allies should launch stronger coordination and cooperation as part of an Arctic sentry, inspired by joint efforts for enhanced presence in the Baltic Sea and on the Eastern flank, said UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to HNN last Thursday.
Russia Downscales Parts of Fisheries Cooperation Norway and Russia reached a fisheries agreement for 2026 in the annual negotiations late last year. Despite the important agreement, Russia is downscaling parts of the fisheries cooperation.
British Forces in the North: Will Operate in Northern Norway Year-Round This year, Norway and the United Kingdom will increase the cooperation between their military forces. In December, the two countries signed an extensive defense agreement that paves the way for greater British presence in the High North.
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.
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.
LKAB Strengthens Logistics in the North with a New Ship Loader in the Port of Narvik The Swedish mining company LKAB has inaugurated a new ship loader in the Port of Narvik, Northern Norway, which is of central importance for the company's exports.
No New Structure for Northern Nordic Cooperation in Sight? Rovaniemi, Finland (High North News): At the end of the year, Finland will withdraw from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and the search for a new cooperation framework has so far not yielded any tangible results. “I really hope that we find a common path forward,” says Hanna Honkamäkilä in the Council of Oulu Region.
“More Important Than Ever to Be Present,” Says Prominent Reporter in the North Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): Norway's commercial public service broadcaster, TV2, is cutting photographers at its regional offices, leaving only two reporters to cover half of Norway. The cuts are part of a trend in which Norwegian national media outlets are reducing their physical presence in the districts, according to professor at Nord University.
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.
Who Will Tell the Story of Us in the North? Comment: When Donald Trump was first elected the US president in 2016, it came as a shock to American commentators and journalists. From their fortresses in Washington and New York, they had lost touch with the voters in the rest of the US.
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.
Sinking of Two Frigates by Norwegian Navy Sparks Strong Reactions In September, the Norwegian Armed Forces sank two old frigates off the coast of Northern Norway in connection with a NATO exercise. Fishers and nature conservationists have reacted strongly to the incident.
More Worried About Putin Than the Security of Norwegian Citizens? Really? Comment: Altinget's reporter has visited Finnmark. The experience apparently made an impression. After the usual meteorological observations, as every capital-bound journalist must present after a visit to the North for some reason, she introduces claims that are completely removed from our reality in the North.
Continued Uncertainties Regarding Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Negotiations The date for the negotiations in the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission about next year's cod quotas has not been determined. However, the parties have agreed to continue the talks, says the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.
Bodø Will Host Joint Expeditionary Force MoD Meeting Norway is hosting the defense minister meeting in the coalition Joint Expeditionary Force at the start of November. The defense ministers of the ten JEF countries will gather in Bodø to strengthen cooperation and security in Northern Europe.
Major Ferrosilicon Producer Curtails Production in Northern Norway Elkem is reducing the production of ferrosilicon at one of its North Norwegian factories due to challenging market conditions. The EU's potential safeguard measures on imports of ferroalloys have further increased uncertainty, the company writes.
Major German Maritime Live-Fire Exercise off Andøya, Northern Norway Ten German naval vessels are now practicing live-fire with missiles, torpedoes, and artillery off the coast of Andøya in Northern Norway. This is the German Navy's largest firing exercise in decades.
The Norwegian Government Proposes Defense Budget Increase of NOK 4,2 Billion in 2026 With the proposed increase, Norway will spend NOK 112 billion on national defense in 2026. In Northern Norway, there are i.a. plans for investments in property, buildings, and facilities of about NOK 3,2 billion.
Arctic Tide: British Royal Marines Practiced Amphibious Operations in the High North The British Royal Navy recently practiced deploying, protecting, and resupplying special forces in Troms, Northern Norway, within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force.
Cornerstone Businesses Face Uncertainty Regarding EU Measures It is still unclear whether Norway will steer clear of the EU's safeguard measures on alloy imports. For the metal industry in Northern Norway, limited market access to the EU may have big consequences.
NATO's New Air Operations Center Opened: Officially Part of the Alliance's Command Bodø (High North News): NATO's third Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) has officially been inaugurated after a rapid build-up. The headquarters will participate in a major NATO exercise already this month, says the CAOC Commander to HNN.
Champions League: Historic Football Match in the Arctic Aspmyra Stadium, Northern Norway (High North News): The first-ever Champions League match above the Arctic Circle was played Tuesday night as Bodø/Glimt faced Tottenham at home.
Russian LNG Carrier Stops in Northern Norway’s Honningsvåg, Again Russian liquefied natural gas carriers continue to use Norway’s Arctic fjords as convenient stopover points, exchanging crews and taking on provisions. Over the weekend a Yamal LNG tanker stopped outside Honningsvåg for 18 hours before proceeding to Murmansk.
US and Norway Tested New American Precision Weapon in Northern Norway American and Norwegian forces recently conducted a successful test of Quicksink, a new precision weapon, on a maritime target off Andøya in Northern Norway. "A clear example of how we work with trusted allies to bring new capabilities into play," says US Air Force Colonel Scott Gunn.
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.
New Project: What Does It Take to Get Students to Stay In the North? Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): Students in the North move southward after completing their studies. A new project will now explore what it takes to make the students stay, live and work in the North.
New Project: What Does It Take to Get Students to Stay In the North? Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): Students in the North move southward after completing their studies. A new project will now explore what it takes to make the students stay, live and work in the North.
Norway's 2025 Election: The Election In Which Half of Norway Was Overlooked and Forgotten Comment: The Norwegian parliamentary election of 2025 will go down as the election in which half of Norway was ignored and forgotten. That is both striking and scary. The gentle attempts at putting the High North on the agenda were arrogantly dismissed.
Norway Plans to Establish State Preparedness Hub Near the Border With Russia: "An Important Measure" The Norwegian government wants to strengthen preparedness and state presence in Eastern Finnmark, Northern Norway, with a new hub. This will boost Norway's ability to manage crises in the High North, believes Professor Natalia Andreassen.
Bodø/Glimt is First Arctic Football Team to Qualify for Champions League The Northern Norwegian football team of Bodø/Glimt made history this week by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. In the coming months, the Aspmyra stadium will host some of Europe's biggest football clubs.
Norway's New High North Strategy: "A Serious Backdrop" Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): "We need to think differently about how we cooperate north in the Nordic region, but also circumpolar, to be safer," said MFA State Secretary Maria Varteressian in connection with the launch of a new High North strategy. A strategy with a serious security policy backdrop, says researcher Andreas Østhagen.
Strengthens the Monitoring of GPS Interference in the High North The Norwegian government is establishing a new office for the Norwegian Communications Authority in Tromsø, Northern Norway. "It is important to strengthen security and preparedness in the High North through the increased presence of the authorities," says the Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance.
Norway Establishes New Brigade in the North The Finnmark Land Defense on NATO’s northern flank has now been developed into the Finnmark Brigade, Norway’s first new brigade since the Cold War. "The aim is to deter those who do not wish us well," says the Norwegian Minister of Defense.
The Norwegian Ministry of Public Security Responds to Preparedness Criticism The Norwegian government’s new preparedness proposal for the High North falls short, expert believes. The Ministry of Public Security is now responding to the criticism. "The government is working on further measures," says State Secretary Kristine Kallset.
Professor: Norway’s New Preparedness Proposal for the High North Falls Short The Norwegian Government recently announced the development of a national preparedness action zone in the northernmost counties of Northern Norway. This is good in principle, but the government is late and is preparing a too small an investment, believes Professor Odd Jarl Borch.
NATO Maritime Task Group on Patrol in the High North The Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 is currently operating off the coast of Northern Norway. The group is patrolling and conducting anti-submarine activities to protect critical sea lines of communication.
High Noon 2025: Northern Debate on Svalbard, Tax Cuts, Norway Seen From Russia, and Dictatorship Next week, the debate series High Noon will take place during the True Northern Arts Festival in Northern Norway. This year's edition addresses questions under the headline 'Everything is about security' – and offers strong voices from arts and culture, politics and business, research and journalism, as well as defense.
Addressing the Northern Geography in Major Exhibition The art gallery Havremagasinet in Northern Sweden has filled a whopping 3600 square meters with art created by various artists from the High North. The works offer diverse views of the northern land of the future.
“Our Goal Is to Maintain the Arctic as a Stable Place” Reitan (High North News): Norway and the Nordic region are about to be placed under NATO's Joint Force Command Norfolk in the US. Its establishment in 2019 was a response to a resurgent Russia operating in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. "Events since have only reinforced and validated the decision to establish the command," says the JFC Norfolk commander.
Opened State Fund in Tromsø, Northern Norway Tromsø (High North News): On Monday, the Norwegian Minister of Finance Jens Stoltenberg opened the State Fund in Tromsø, which will invest in Nordic small-cap listed companies. This establishment will strengthen Northern Norway's financial environment, says Stoltenberg.
JFC Norfolk Commander to Visit the Norwegian Joint Headquarters The US Vice Admiral Doug Perry, Commander of Joint Force Command Norfolk, is visiting Bodø, Northern Norway, this week. The NATO command is responsible for the Atlantic Ocean and the High North and will also be closely connected to the coming NATO air operations centre in Bodø.
NATO Secretary General’s Visit to Norway: Increased Focus on the High North Within the Alliance Ramsund and Evenes (High North News): NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte gained in-depth insight into the security situation in the High North when he visited Northern Norway last week. He also got to see how Norwegian and allied forces work together. A very important visit, says Rutte.
NATO Secretary General’s Visit to Norway: Increased Focus on the High North Within the Alliance Ramsund and Evenes (High North News): NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte gained in-depth insight into the security situation in the High North when he visited Northern Norway last week. He also got to see how Norwegian and allied forces work together. A very important visit, says Rutte.
NATO Air Operations Centre to Be Located in Bodø: Emphasis on the Importance of the High North Bodø (High North News): Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasizes the importance of the High North for choosing Bodø as the location for NATO's third combined air operations centre.
Arctic Council Chairship Handover: “We Must Move Forward With Courage,” Says Greenlandic Foreign Minister Tromsø, Northern Norway (High North News): The Kingdom of Denmark, spearheaded by Greenland, has taken over the chairship of the Arctic Council. The eight Arctic states have also agreed on a joint statement. "The Council must continue to be the foremost forum for cooperation in the Arctic," underlines Greenland's foreign minister.
Stoltenberg: “Narvik Is History, but Also the Future in Terms of Security and Defense” Narvik, Northern Norway (High North News): "Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO has made Narvik and the High North even more important for our security," says Jens Stoltenberg, former NATO Secretary General and current Norwegian Minister of Finance.
Finland Invests in Future Railway to Norway and Sweden Finland has started planning a future railway connection stretching from northern Finland to Narvik in northern Norway. The project aims to change the Finnish track gauge to the Swedish and Norwegian standard, thereby connecting Finland closer to its neighboring countries.
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.
