Placing US Tanks in Svalbard is an exceptionally bad proposal Comment: Stockpiling of weapons, tanks, artillery and vehicles, including American ones, on the archipelago, is the latest proposal for "peaceful" development in the North.
Where One Health Meets the Arctic Climate Resilience Reality Op-ed: The Arctic is warming at about 3.5 times the global average, reshaping food systems, infrastructure, and posing a significant health risk for more than four million people. The One Health approach offers a path forward, but only if it moves beyond coordination and delivers protection on the ground, writes Hassan Alzain.
The Sun Is Returning to Longyearbyen. In Donald Trump’s Head, the Lights Are off for Good. Comment (Longyearbyen): I am in Longyearbyen, wondering how I got here, and not purely geographically. I lived in Svalbard for many years, and at least half of my heart has been deposited at 78 degrees North. I am wondering because of the questions that have brought me here now.
The Silk Gloves Are off and Europe Is in the Splits Comment: The silk gloves are off. It took the Danish Defence Intelligence Service to stand up against the USA and Donald Trump. Their message cannot be misunderstood: the USA is a threat to Europe.
Sharing Strategic Geography: The Nordics Amid a Changing Security Reality As the security environment in northern Europe is rapidly changing, the North should now be considered as having a shared strategic geography, writes Postdoctoral Fellow Gabriella Gricius in this op-ed.
Ticking Clock: Arctic States Have Less Than a Fortnight to Act on Black Carbon and Polar Fuels The Arctic is warming four times faster than anywhere else on Earth - this is a warning sign for elsewhere on the planet. The shipping sector has been gifted an opportunity to cut black carbon emissions from shipping in the region, which would have a near-immediate positive impact. But time is tight, writes Dr. Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance, in this op-ed.
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.
Whispers in the Wind: Aerosols as the Arctic’s Urgent, Unseen Ally Op-ed: Aerosols are reshaping the Arctic in ways that greenhouse gases alone cannot explain. A dedicated management program could turn this hidden climate driver into a lever for immediate action, writes Hassan Alzain.
BRICS by BRICS: Brazil’s Accession to the Svalbard Treaty and the Politics of Partnership The Brazilian government has submitted the proposal to sign the Svalbard Treaty to the National Congress, which is now under consideration.
The Norwegian State Budget: Almost Every Coin Spent in the North is Due to Russia Comment: Those who are still unsure of what governs the High North policy should take a look at the Norwegian state budget for 2026. Three ministries clearly state that this is about defense and security policy. To whatever degree the North is strengthened, it is purely due to the threat from Russia.
Norway Arms Itself... But Who Will Pay The Bill? Rising defense spending puts pressure on the welfare state and on taxpayers, says Ioanna Liouta, political and economic analyst.
Secretary McMahon Should Consider Establishing a National Resource Center on Arctic Studies within the University of Alaska System The U.S. Department of Education needs to address the geographic bias against Arctic Studies and Pacific Studies in the NRC Program. That could start with the establishment of a Center for Arctic Studies within the University of Alaska System, writes researcher Michael Walsh in this op-ed.
A Quick Playbook for Congressional Oversight on Arctic Research Op-ed: It is clear that there are many Arctic research issues that warrant more engagement by the U.S. Congress, including potential non-compliance issues with statutory obligations, writes researcher Michael Walsh.
How Greenland and Denmark Can Lead the Arctic Council Towards Cleaning up Arctic Shipping As the first round of this Autumn’s Arctic Council meetings kicks off, led by Greenland under the Kingdom of Denmark Chairship, the council must seize the opportunity to set out its priorities for the future health and biodiversity of the Arctic Ocean, the people that depend on it, and global climate systems that it helps regulate, writes Dr. Sian Prior in the Clean Arctic Alliance in this op-ed.
How Greenland and Denmark Can Lead the Arctic Council Towards Cleaning up Arctic Shipping As the first round of this Autumn’s Arctic Council meetings kicks off, led by Greenland under the Kingdom of Denmark Chairship, the council must seize the opportunity to set out its priorities for the future health and biodiversity of the Arctic Ocean, the people that depend on it, and global climate systems that it helps regulate, writes Dr. Sian Prior in the Clean Arctic Alliance in this op-ed.
How Greenland and Denmark Can Lead the Arctic Council Towards Cleaning up Arctic Shipping As the first round of this Autumn’s Arctic Council meetings kicks off, led by Greenland under the Kingdom of Denmark Chairship, the council must seize the opportunity to set out its priorities for the future health and biodiversity of the Arctic Ocean, the people that depend on it, and global climate systems that it helps regulate, writes Dr. Sian Prior in the Clean Arctic Alliance in this op-ed.
Arctic Research Should Advance More Than U.S. National Security Interests The U.S. Government does not have a good grasp on the federally funded research needs for advancing U.S. national interests in the Arctic. That became clear to me when the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC) recently published a new report that was intended to articulate those needs, writes researcher Michael Walsh in this op-ed.
Ice Melt Drives Earth's Sea Level Rise "Reducing black carbon emissions would help slow the meltdown", says Kay Brown, Arctic Policy Director at Pacific Environment.
Zero Emissions Day in the Arctic: A 24-Hour Stress Test for the Planet Op-ed: The 21st of September is Zero Emissions Day. The High North could make it a one-day trial, transforming it into a global call to act now rather than later, Hassan Alzain writes in this op-ed.
When Generals Move Gas Cans Away From a Flaming Fire Comment (Oslo): "We cannot protect ourselves against everything," said the Norwegian Chief of Defense, Eirik Kristoffersen, providing a room full of international academics with Arctic expertise a crash course in democracy. "You can give me more power. But I don't want it."
Stories of Frustration from the «Third Pole» I came to Kathmandu for a conference. I left as the airport shut, protests turned deadly, and the prime minister resigned. These are the impressions I carried home.
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 Under Pressure: A New Strategy for the High North in 2025 Op-ed: In a world where security policy is intertwined with all other policy areas and geo-economic rationales diverge from purely economic considerations, Norway must navigate increasing interest and interference in its northern regions. The Arctic and High North are increasingly arenas for power projection, geo-economics, and symbolic politics, writes researcher Andreas Østhagen.
Knowledge Needs for Navigating the Central Arctic Ocean Op-ed: The Central Arctic Ocean is becoming more accessible for shipping. The ability to navigate at the top of the globe presents new opportunities, risks, and uncertainties. We need more transdisciplinary research to develop proactive responses to shipping growth, writes Julia Olsen, Associate Professor at Nord University.
Should We Really Secure Our Own Peace to Speculation in Israeli War Stocks? Comment: For almost two years, the occupying power Israel has attacked and killed civilian Palestinians. At the same time as the ongoing genocide, the Norwegian Oil Fund has systematically cherry-picked stocks in the Israeli war industry. The profit is used to secure our own peace.
From the North to the Tropics: Why Arctic Adaptation Must Be a COP30 Priority Op-ed: The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the global average, yet its communities receive virtually no adaptation support. COP30 must start to close that justice gap, writes Hassan Alzain.
Trump Wants to Pull Troops Out of Europe. To Use Them Against His Own People? Comment: Donald Trump continues to threaten aid for Ukraine. Instead, he sends soldiers against his own people. Whether or not he, as president, is allowed to do so is apparently besides the point.
The High North Is the Place to Meet Ministers and Generals Comment: This week, the chance of meeting a Chief of Defense or a Norwegian Minister was high. That is, if you were in the North. If you find yourself further south in the country, grumpy mayors and opposition politicians can be found right around the corner.
Our Time’s Financial “Draft Evaders” Comment: The public budgets across Europe are wrought to face Russian aggression and possible American military withdrawal. The wealthy respond by moving to Switzerland. That is how they keep their money to themselves and evade contributing to the defense of Europe.
The Arctic Council Survives Both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump Comment: They stood humble, but smiling in the background, Norway's Morten Høglund and Solveig Rossabø, when Denmark took over the chairship of the Arctic Council on Monday. In front of them, on stage, the Norwegian MFA Espen Barth Eide had just presented a collection of non-committal political platitudes, or a closing statement as it is officially called.
Trump’s Geopolitical Alignment With the Kremlin - Prioritizing Power Over Democratic Principles and Arctic Security
Thawing Ground, Rising Stakes: Why Arctic Change Demands New Resilience Op-ed: The melting of permafrost in the Arctic leads to a plethora of unwanted consequences, and there is an urgent need for action. "Waiting until permafrost thaws is a visible emergency will already be too late," writes Master of Environmental Management candidate at Yale University, Hassan Alzain, in this op-ed.
Our High North Neighbor, Greenland Op-ed: US Army Veteran and Historian Mike Thornton looks at the history of Greenland amid increased US interest in the Arctic island.
The High North and the F-35 Lightning II Op-ed: Norway recently received the last of the 52 F-35 fighter jets ordered from the US. In this op-ed, US Army Veteran and Historian Mike Thornton provides an overview of the fighter jet and its capabilities in the defense of the High North.
Arctic Economic Council and Arctic Mayors’ Forum Welcomes the New Chairship Programme From the Kingdom of Denmark
US Policies in the Arctic Are Changing but the Extent Remains to Be Seen The Arctic States will need to have some patience as various American policies become clearer. And in the meantime, they can task their diplomats with expressing to the U.S. their thoughts on some of these topics in the hope of influencing the formulation of U.S. positions, writes Evan Bloom at UiT in this op-ed.
Our High North Neighbor, Iceland The Battle of the Atlantic would never have been won without the support of the people of Iceland, writes US Army Veteran Mike Thornton in this op-ed. He takes a historical look at Iceland and its strategic position.
No One Can Trust the US Anymore Comment: "They have ripped us off," wailed Donald Trump, pointing to Jan Mayen, an icy islet in the Barents Sea. Together with war-ridden and dirt-poor countries, often bombed to pieces by the US, Jan Mayen represents a serious and destructive threat against the US economy, according to Donald Trump.
Chasing the Stag, Losing the North: Strategic Drift in the Arctic Op-ed: Picture a tense tableau along the Arctic frontier: state actors, frost-nipped and watchful, arrayed in a loose formation, their eyes fixed on a shared prize—the stag. This image, drawn from game theory’s Stag Hunt, captures the essence of strategic collaboration. The stag, a symbol of collective prosperity—security, resources, stability—requires unified effort to secure. Yet the lure of smaller, solitary gains—the hare—constantly tempts each player to break ranks.
JD Vance to Accompany Wife on Greenland Trip Statement by Dr Dwayne Ryan Menezes, Founder and Managing Director of Polar Research and Policy Initiative (PRPI), on the announcement by JD Vance that he will be joining Usha Vance in Greenland later this week.
