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.
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.
Putin and Trump With Joint Press Conference in Alaska The summit between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will begin at 11:30 local time (Alaska Daylight Time), Kremlin confirms. The meeting will take place at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage, Alaska, and will be followed by a joint press conference.
EU Proposes Phase-Out Of Russian Gas by 2027, Currently Spends €1.5bn Each Month on Imports The European Commission announced the details for its proposed ban of Russian gas and oil. Short-term and new contracts could come to an end in 2026, but the bulk of imports under long-term agreements would continue for another 2.5 years, potentially sending another €30-40 billion to Russia.
Ukraine War Reaches Arctic With Massive Drone Attack on Olenya Air Base Near Murmansk Russia’s Arctic region around Murmansk was a key target during Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb.” Swarms of drones released in proximity to the Olenya Air Base 90km south of Murmansk destroyed a number of long-range bombers and surveillance aircraft.
“Norway Must Be the One to Have Control in the Areas Closest to Russia” Kirkenes (High North News): Russia is rattling its sabers along NATO's borders in the North, and the Norwegian prime minister warns against war and opens up for increased allied exercises in the High North. But both Norway's PM and Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen trust Trump to respect Norwegian game rules.
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.
An Admiral’s Brutal War Story – And What Is the Definition of a Victory in Ukraine? Comment (Reykjavik): Without a manuscript, without hesitation, nearly without even drawing a breath, he let a packed hall know what the war in Ukraine is about. I am talking about Admiral Rob Bauer. He dragged the soon 1,000 daily news broadcasts on weapon systems through a mud of blood, suffering, and death.
Ukraine Petitions Norway, US, and EU for New Sanctions Against Russian Gas Despite Western sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, the country’s LNG exports have increased since 2022. A new Ukrainian petition now calls on officials in Europe and the US to expand sanctions targeting Novatek’s Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 projects.
Behind a Desk, They Decide Over Life and Death - Bob Dylan, 1962 Commentary: "Come, you masters of war. You that hide behind walls. You that hide behind desks." I resort to Bob Dylan in the search for words to describe a world in which bestiality is the subject of every headline.
EU Countries Continue to Import $1bn of Russian Arctic LNG Every Month Almost two years into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European countries continue to import Russian Arctic liquefied natural gas at record levels. A new report details how LNG now constitutes the primary Russian fossil fuel purchased by the EU, sending more than $1bn per month to the country.
NATO Chief: “Great Powers Have No Right to “Spheres of Influence” Against Small Neighboring Countries" Arendal (High North News): "It would be life-threatening to Norway," says NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. However, he did not want to elaborate on the security situation in the Arctic.
NATO Ready To Include Ukraine Arendal (High North News): However, the Director of the Private Office of NATO, Stian Jenssen, and Professor of international politics, Janne Haaland Matlary, believe a NATO membership may come at the expense of parts of Ukraine's territory.
VIDEO: Living in The Shadow of The War It has been over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. Preparedness is being increased in the northern regions and the nuclear threat is imminent. How is our mental and physical reality affected by our neighbor's warfare? Join the debate when Editor-In-Chief Arne O. Holm meets composer Tine Surel Lange together with other guests during the True Northern Arts Festival.
The War Shall Be Won With Oil and Killers Commentary: Russia is releasing killers from its prisons for them to continue killing. That is happening concurrently as Russian industrial companies are setting historic sales records. War is an absurd place.
What Effects Has the Ukraine war Had on the Arctic Council? Op-Ed: On Tuesday, March 28, Norway announced the priorities for its Chairship of the Arctic Council (AC) that is about to start in May. With the transition from Russia to Norway at the helm of the AC on the horizon, it is important to ask the question – what effects has the Ukraine war had on the AC to date?
Ukraine War Taking Toll on Arctic Material and Personnel Reports of Arctic weapon systems and military personnel being lost in combat continue to stack up. Air defense missile systems, self-propelled howitzers, and massive transport vehicles all either designed for or stationed in the Arctic have been destroyed by the Ukrainian military.
UK Releases Updated Arctic Policy Incorporating New Realities Of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine The UK updated its Arctic framework transitioning from a low-tension environment to a region which faces greater competition and geopolitical interests.
UK Releases Updated Arctic Policy Incorporating New Realities Of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine The UK updated its Arctic framework transitioning from a low-tension environment to a region which faces greater competition and geopolitical interests.
UK Releases Updated Arctic Policy Incorporating New Realities Of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine The UK updated its Arctic framework transitioning from a low-tension environment to a region which faces greater competition and geopolitical interests.
India Puts Up a Fight Against China in the Arctic (Commentary) It is an almost accepted truth that China is gaining ever greater power over Russia. But less attention surrounds India's entry into the Arctic. Both of these populous states are targeting Arctic resources.
Sanctioning Friendship Is a Bad Idea (Commentary) Putting friendship with the Russian people on the list of sanctions against Russia is both naïve and short-sighted. Instead, friendship agreements between Norwegian and Russian cities should be used to show that we, as democracies, are capable of distinguishing between the despot Vladimir Putin and his people.
Hot Conflict in Cold Surroundings? Svalbard’s Strategic Impact After Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine "Should Norway fear the Russian aggression on Svalbard?" asks researcher Turid Austin Wæhler at UiT-The Arctic University of Norway.
When the War Narratives Are Not Corresponding, It Demands More From Us and Jonas (Commentary) “The war has entered a more serious phase and has moved closer to us,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at a press conference the other day. The message holds gravity and is difficult to convey. Partly because the government’s narratives are not corresponding.
New Finnish Government Report Finds More Complicated Arctic Security Environment A new government report on Finland’s role in the Arctic and the impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine paints a challenging picture going forward for cooperation in the region.
New US Arctic Strategy Foreshadows Increasing Hurdles for Cooperation in a More Complex Region The new US Arctic strategy suggests that addressing the adverse impacts from climate change and maintaining international cooperation despite increasing strategic competition vis-à-vis Russia and China will be key challenges in the region over the next decade.
Closed borders and excessive profits. Where did solidarity go? (Commentary) Washington DC: We are closing the borders to Russian conscientious objectors. We are refusing to share the war profits with anyone but ourselves. And on Svalbard, we have deprived foreigners of their right to vote.
Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage Mirrors Svalbard Cable Incident The sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea earlier this week may shed new light on two recent incidents in the Norwegian Arctic involving the cutting of communication cables.
From Ukraine to the Arctic: Russia's Capabilities in the Region and the War's Impact on the North For the past decade, Russia has systematically expanded and strengthened its Arctic military through a combination of bases, airfields, and large-scale radar installations, as well as defensive and offensive weapons systems. How will the war in Ukraine affect Russia's capabilities in the region and what challenges do Norway and its allies face in the Arctic?
Does Anyone Remember the Dinosaurs “Walkman” and “Stencil Machines”? Or “Disarmament”? (Commentary) Once upon a time, we used walkmans and stencil machines. The words have long since disappeared out of our language and live a lonely and abandoned life in the dictionary. Now, the terms have been accompanied by a new, linguistic dinosaur: disarmament.
"The West has Been Too Naive in their Relationship with Russia" The West has been too naive in their relationship with Russia and have not realized that what followed the fall of the wall was an exception as far as Russia was concerned, say a group of Norwegian editors. They are now working on keeping channels of knowledge and information open towards the new iron curtain.
Ukraine Wants Norway to Remove Exception Giving Russian Fishing Vessels Port Access Norway's port ban against Russia does not apply to Russian fishing vessels. Now the Ukrainian authorities want the exception to be removed.
Finland is Ready to Fight Russia if Attacked, Says Defense Chief "Finland has prepared for a Russian attack for decades and would put up stiff resistance should one occur", its armed forces chief says.
Might push Russia to withdraw from Arctic Council The Arctic 7 of the Arctic Council are within their rights to continue without Russia. "But it may leave Russia with little choice but to formally withdraw from the Arctic Council", says Jeremy Greenwood from The Brookings Institution.
Russian Ambassador to US Warns Arctic Council Against Making Decisions Without Moscow A senior Russian diplomat stated that the decisions made by the Arctic Council without the involvement of Moscow would be considered illegitimate.
The Arctic Council: The Arctic 7 Resume Limited Work Without Russia On Wednesday, seven of the Arctic Council's eight member states issued a joint statement on the limited resumption of Arctic Council cooperation.
In Arctic Finland, Santa’s Grotto Doubles as a Bomb Shelter Russia's invasion of Ukraine has not caught Russias neighbouring country Finland unprepared, as even the Santa Claus theme park in is ready to revert to its original function - an emergency bomb shelter in case of attack.
The War Kills the Climate and Starves People to Death Commentary: Russia and Putin’s war against Ukraine is a kind of madness that hits the world far beyond the reach of their respective missiles. The war leads to large-scale militarization of the Arctic, as well as to extreme famine further south. The former without opposition, the latter without any solution.
Joint Nordic support for Finland and Sweden in NATO In a joint statement of support, the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland and Norway welcome the decisions in Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership and emphasize that the Nordic neighbors share the values and principles on which NATO is based.
Sweden´s Foreign Minister: A Historic Day for Sweden Swedens application for membership in NATO has not been formally decided, but the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs already took to Twitter to share the news: "The Swedish government’s intent is to apply for NATO-membership. A historic day for Sweden".
In the Shadow of War: “The Barents Cooperation was a Genuine, Honest Attempt” Kirkenes, Norway: Rune Rafaelsen was awarded a medal for his work for friendship between Russia and Norway. A Russian medal. He has returned it. Friendship with the official Russia is shattered. As are decades of cooperation between people in the two countries. “But you cannot blame the Barents cooperation for that. It was a genuine and honest attempt”, says the former Kirkenes mayor.
President Niinistö and Prime Minister Marin: Finland Must Apply for NATO Membership Without Delay A NATO membership would strengthen Finland's security, says President Sauli Väinämö and Prime Minister Sanna Mirella Marin of Finland
In the Shadow of War: Russian Journalists are Threatened with 15 Years in Prison for Writing about the War Joensuu, Finland: Last weekend, a series of Russian journalists participated at an international journalist conference in Finland. According to Amund Trellevik, former leader of Barents Press International, creating such a meeting has been very hard. “Of course they took a big risk in coming here”, he says. Watch the whole interview here.
