High North News

 

 

 

 

Researcher Tiril Vold Hansen recently completed a three-year-long PhD project about the Norwegian Svalbard policy. Her most important findings include how Norwegian authorities utilize environmental regulations to strengthen the sovereignty of Svalbard. (Photo: Birgitte Annie Martinussen)

 

Trump's Arctic

 

Dear reader. Nearly everything can be tied to geo or security politics in the North. Four new years with Donald Trump (78) in the driver's seat of the world's most powerful country will also impact the region.   In the last few months, the US' new and aging president has made his mark on the news. Much can be said about Donald Trump (R), but at least he has placed Greenland on the map, along with the rest of the Arctic.   Nevertheless, important US agreements were made also before Trump set fire to the international press with a series of executive orders when he entered the White House on Monday.   Amongst other things, a new US-Norway agreement facilitates American commercial space launches from Andøya Spaceport in Northern Norway.   And Norway and France recently entered into an agreement on strengthened defense cooperation.   Weak preparedness white paper   Recently, we deep-dived into the Norwegian total preparedness white paper. Several sources point to a weak white paper that does not address the extraordinary challenges in the North, despite the fact that the Norwegian Minister of Health described his meeting with the Eastern Finnmark infrastructure as “expensive and inadequate."   “And the infrastructure is only one of the challenges not addressed in the total preparedness white paper recently presented by his government,” says Commentator and Editor Arne O. Holm.   The Total Preparedness Commission called for a stronger investment in total preparedness in the North and the government is criticized for "watering down the commission's specific suggestions."   An important part of the infrastructure is the crucial Iron Ore Line, characterized by low capacity and significant pressure from several actors. Now, measures are being made to find compromises among those who utilize the railway line between Norway and Sweden in the North.   Svalbard and Russian gas   HNN's Science Journalist Birgitte Martinussen met Svalbard Researcher Tiril Vold Hansen, who wants to clarify to the Svalbard inhabitants how the government thinks and prioritizes when implementing new regulations for the archipelago.   We keep following the paths of – or lack thereof – Russian gas. Now, a coalition of ten EU member states is urging Brussels to take steps to ban or, at a minimum, begin phasing out Russian liquefied natural gas imports.   Then there is Trump, who hit the ground running. On his first day, he signed an executive order aiming to boost oil, gas, and other natural resource development in Alaska. Much to the delight of the senators from Alaska.   He also wants to change the name of North America's tallest peak in Alaska.   Next week, we are participating in the international Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø, Northern Norway, at which Holm is contributing to several panels: A geopolitical pubinar, an EU debate, and a security seminar. Martinussen and Journalist Astri Edvardsen will also be present to report on new research and geo and security policy. Feel free to send them tips!   Best regards, Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen