EU - A Pole in International Relations’ Post

The Eu's arctic strategy will need revision, and the dance between EU, Greenland and Denmark is key to the evolution of EU policy on the polar regions. This is not about geopolitics, but raises important questions about our understanding of the stakes of the actors involved around the status of the Arctic Ocean, the delimitation of the North Pole and the conditions under which a High North, Low tension scenario could become a reality. I submit this depends too a large degree on The Danish Realm and the quality of the partnership between Denmark and its north atlantic territories , and on the treaty-making powers of the European Union. The entanglements are considerable and it will take years to sort out things, but this piece provides guidance how to proceed and explain why it is everyones interest to move forward in a determined manner.

Dialogue is necessary According to PORA's Director General Maxim Dankin, the institutions of dialogue that previously operated in the macroregion have been at least partially blocked. "However, international dialogue is still necessary to minimize conflicts, and it may be conducted only in case of a clear understanding of the declared and realistically pursued strategic priorities of the neighboring Arctic countries. It would be reasonable to promote comprehensive dialogue with friendly non-Arctic countries, aimed first of all at projects to develop the Russian Arctic and NSR (Northern Sea Route)," he said. Norway was the first Arctic Council country to have an official strategy in the Arctic (in 2006). By now, the Council's all states have similar guidance documents, and in most cases those are second or even third generation Arctic strategies (except for Denmark, which has a strategy, adopted for the first time in 2011). Within the current decade, the research document reads, the Arctic Council countries will update all strategic documents. Despite all the differences, there are a number of semantic blocks that exist in all those strategies. Quite similar is the nomenclature of problems to be solved through strategic measures (environmental challenges, the indigenous peoples status, international competition in high latitudes, which explicitly or implicitly suggesting opposition with the Russian Federation and/or the PRC), priority areas of Arctic policies, and announced state motivations, the study notes. "Russia, having faced challenges of isolation in the Arctic Council, continues to build up its position in the Arctic through development of the Northern Sea Route and through implementation of the strategy to develop the Russian Arctic and national security by 2035. The awareness of new external threats, including those fixed doctrinally, is important in light of work on updating the country's own strategy that was adopted back in 2020," the experts concluded. (Part Two, The End) #business #finance #financialservices

Canada-U.S. Arctic Cooperation It’s encouraging to witness Canada and the United States, long-standing allies and close friends, taking a significant step forward in Arctic collaboration with the creation of a joint task force to negotiate the Beaufort Sea boundary. In a rapidly changing Arctic landscape marked by new challenges and strategic competition, this collaborative effort exemplifies how democracies and allies can address complex local and global issues. By working jointly to clarify maritime boundaries and engaging meaningfully with Indigenous partners, Canada and the U.S. are establishing precedents for responsible conservation and sustainable use of Arctic resources. This is a shining example of what is possible when friends and allies unite to promote, protect, and defend shared values and environments. Let’s hope this inspires other democracies and their allies around the world to pursue similar collaborative approaches to global challenges. #ArcticCooperation #CanadaUSRelations #AlliesInAction #SustainableFuture https://lnkd.in/eCE2ZDsK

The US president-elect recently made comments on taking over Greenland - but Donald Trump's prospects for the Danish island can be traced back to his first term. "There will always be a geopolitical element to international development aid, and for the people of Greenland the idea of a foreign power making great promises and delivering more pain than prosperity will be nothing new". Who deserves to rule the Arctic? Revisit this 2020 article from opinion editor Sulaiman Hakemy

How did the Arctic Council survive the chairship transition between Russia and Norway? And how has it survived until now? For the past years, I have been following the processes in the Arctic Council and the discourses surrounding it, together with Svein Vigeland Rottem, and this has resulted in a publication in The Polar Journal. We have included a chronological overview of what has happened from February 24th, 2022, until May 11th, 2023, the time of the chairship transition. The analysis builds on three frameworks: the legal framework, the strategic framework, and foreign policy engagement. Multiple factors have contributed to the Arctic Council’s ability still to be considered relevant: its role as a knowledge producer and facilitator, its strategic significance as a multilateral platform for cooperation, and the inclusion of non-state actors and indigenous peoples in decision-shaping processes. In addition to its incentivising individual states to demonstrate their commitment to Arctic governance when addressing climate and environmental issues in the north beyond the constraints of bilateral relations. Unfortunately, the paper is not open-access, but let me know if you want a free e-print link. If you have access to Polar Journal through your institution, you can read the paper by following the link below:

Pleased to share here my Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Commentary on how the next Trump Administration can advance its goals in the two polar regions. For example, I believe it would be a priority for the Trump Administration to strengthen the U.S. industrial base by building icebreakers that are desperately needed in both the #Arctic and #Antarctic. It should also use the robust Antarctic Treaty monitoring tools, such as the right to conduct unannounced inspections, to answer questions about potential Chinese dual-use capacity in that region. It should involve Alaskans, including Alaskan natives, when making decisions about the American Arctic.

Bellona wrote an open letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre prior to his visit to China to make it clear that Norway should refrain from facilitating increased use of the Northern Sea Route by China and others. Here's five reasons why we are worried about it. 1. The Northern Sea Route (NSR) is not a safe route for the commercial fleet due to increasingly unpredictable ice conditions, more extreme weather, changes in currents and wave patterns, and poorly updated nautical charts. 2. The NSR harms the global climate. Soot emissions from shipping in Arctic waters accelerate ice melt, in addition to the global impact of CO2 emissions. 3. International Maritime Organization introduced a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic. We have not seen evidence that Russian authorities have changed practices to comply with these requirements. We assume that the Chinese research icebreaker that arrived in Murmansk last week uses heavy fuel oil. 4. An oil spill resulting from a wreck, collision, or grounding would cause an environmental catastrophe. There are no methods or equipment that can clean up the oil in an acceptable manner. The infrastructure for search, rescue, and preparedness does not match the vast distances. 5. Activity along the Northern Sea Route gives Russian authorities more opportunities to finance their war efforts which is a catastrophe for the Ukrainian people and the environment. The conclusion: The NSR is unsafe for ships and crews, harmful to the climate, creates an unacceptable risk of pollution. It enables Russia's plans for export of materials that fund the regime's war in Ukraine. Norway must work against increased use of the NSR.

The #ArcticCouncil, founded in 1996 by Russia, USA, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Greenland, and Canada, serves as an intergovernmental organization promoting collaboration and joint research in the Arctic. It has signed three binding treaties: Aviation and Maritime Search and Rescue (2011), Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response (2013), and International Arctic Scientific Cooperation (2017). Despite the #UkraineCrisis impacting cooperation with #Russia, the Council remains pivotal for addressing Arctic challenges. Read more about "Norway’s Chairship of the Arctic Council, 2023-2025" in the latest #ICWAViewpoint by Kanishka Ajmera, RI, ICWA. Click 👉 bit.ly/3L4APcG

What role do climate change and melting sea ice actually play in Russia's development of the Northern Sea Route? Together with Arild Moe and Björn Gunnarsson we have written a paper addressing the 'paradox' of the Russian ambitious icebreaker construction program, given the rapid climatic changes in the region. Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ensuing international tension is affecting trade patterns and investments in the Russian Arctic. In this situation climate change plays less of a role in the development of shipping in the Russian Arctic. But even before the war climate change was less important than often assumed in the international literature. You can read our paper by accessing it from this post, or following this link to Arctic Review on Law and Politics: https://lnkd.in/deg6ZmRb #ClimateChange #NorthernSeaRoute #Arctic #ArcticEnergy #Russia

Vard Marine Inc welcomes the creation of the ICE Pact signaling strong support from the governments of Canada, the United States and Finland for the formalization and expansion of the already close cooperation between industry players operating in the icebreaker design and construction space. As a leading global naval architecture firm with a 40-year history and strong performance record in icebreaker design, with current operations in both Canada and the United States, and having been spun-off in 1983 from a Finnish company, we in many regards already embody the spirit and intent of the ICE Pact - we very much look forward to what the future holds. In the last 25 years there have been 23 competitively tendered government icebreaker programs (delivered or under construction), we have played a key role in 11 of those 23 programs, more than many other firms, including design of the Canadian Coast Guard/Garde côtière canadienne new Polar Icebreaker, the design of the Royal Canadian Navy | Marine royale canadienne Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels and the Armada de Chile Antarctic Icebreaker, AGB 46 “Almirante Viel", that was just commissioned into naval service last week. On many of these programs we have worked hand-in-glove with industry partners in Finland like Aker Arctic Technology Inc, ABB, Wärtsilä, ILS Ship Design & Engineering, Elomatic, Steerprop and others. For more information see https://lnkd.in/e92qZaru