The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 13 May, 2024

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Faroese Parliament Passed Arctic Policy, Calls for More Independence

Eye on the Arctic reported on May 13 that the Faroese parliament, Løgtingið, has passed the self-governing nation’s Arctic policy. The policy emphasizes the need for an independent voice and the direct participation of the Faroe Islands in international forums, including within the Arctic Council. The policy document identifies fighting climate change in the Arctic, strengthening international cooperation, and maintaining security in the region as key priorities. (Eye on the Arctic)

Take 1: The news of the Faroese parliament passing the archipelago’s own Arctic policy attests to the increasing importance of Arctic-wide cooperation and to the desire of the Faroe Islands to participate in negotiations directly, independently of Denmark. As part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Danish government is primarily responsible for the foreign policy and defense of the Faroe Islands, but other Faroese strategic priorities are set in Tórshavn. The Faroe Islands have been working on establishing their own Arctic strategy since the early 2010s. Only about 53,000 people live in the Faroe Islands, which are not in the Arctic, but the northernmost tip of their continental shelf (essential for the country’s exclusive fishing zone) is located in the region. The islands occupy a strategically important location in the North Atlantic. Faroe Islanders have also traditionally depended almost exclusively on fisheries, making them vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the Arctic. The new Arctic policy document aims to define the country as a partner in the Arctic and focuses on strategic issues over which the Faroes have exclusive jurisdiction: sustainability and reducing greenhouse emissions, research and education, and new maritime and fishing opportunities. Additionally, the Faroe Islands have expressed interest in using new maritime routes opened by melting sea ice, but these must be balanced with concern for the environment and strengthened emergency preparedness. Therefore, the Faroese Arctic policy is an example of a non-sovereign nation becoming an increasingly independent actor in Arctic co-operation. (Eye on the Arctic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade, Stjórnmál & Stjórnsýsla)

Three Arctic Conferences to Meet in Bodø, Without Russia

As reported by High North News on May 10, three Arctic conferences will form the Arctic Congress in Bodø, Northern Norway, at the end of May. These conferences are the High North Dialogue, UArctic Congress, and the International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences. The resulting multidisciplinary Congress will be hosted by the Nordland Research Institute and Nord University. The four overarching themes at the conference are People of the North, Sustainable Economic Developments, Climate and Environment, and Oceans. Russian institutions will not participate due to ongoing sanctions that impact research funding, but individual Russian researchers are allowed to take part. (High North News)

Take 2: The fact that the Arctic Congress will be taking place in Bodø without major Russian participation demonstrates the fraught state of Arctic research and co-operation. While Arctic organizations have tried to restart co-operation on Arctic topics, Russia’s ongoing militarization of the Arctic, as well as sanctions against the country by both the EU and the US, have hampered the possibility of Arctic-wide dialogue. In many ways, research co-operation in the Arctic has been frozen and the Russian Arctic has been virtually closed to Western researchers for the last two years. As Russian territory accounts for over half of the Arctic, missing data and co-operation opportunities will inevitably affect the quality and reliability of research in Arctic-related fields. The scientific understanding of Arctic issues—ranging from the effects of global warming to current studies in reindeer husbandry—will be impacted. This points out the untenable long-term prospects of a complete ban on all Russia-affiliated researchers and institutions. It also makes it clear that the last three decades have been the most open and accessible regarding research and data collection in Russia, and that scientists may need to adapt to a more Soviet-style reality again. Thus, this development highlights the possibility of a split between the Arctic cooperation conducted in these international forums and an unintegrated “Russian Arctic,” with its isolated policy aims and a lack of shared data. To maintain long-term and collaborative circumpolar Arctic research, a more nuanced rethinking of the sanctions against all Russian research institutions may be necessary. (High North News, Scientific American)

Last Private Land in Svalbard up for Sale

The Barents Observer reported on May 13 that AS Kulspids, the holding company that owns the only remaining privately-owned lot of land in Svalbard, has been listed for sale with a starting bid of €300 million. The 60-square-kilometer property with five kilometers of coastline in southwest Svalbard referred to as Søre Fagerfjord can be sold either to a country that is a signatory of the Svalbard Treaty, or to companies or citizens of such a country. The sale likely offers the last opportunity to own land in a uniquely strategic location, though Norwegian environmental laws prohibit restarting mining activity. (The Barents Observer)

Take 3: The proposed sale of Søre Fagerfjord could be pivotal for Arctic security and policy. Owning land in Svalbard provides strategic leverage in the Arctic, which is an area of increasing geopolitical tension due to intensive warming as a result of climate change, its strategic location, and visa-free access to the archipelago. The buyer could gain influence in Arctic governance and research output, impacting regional stability and international relations. The potential of the property is likely to attract both private companies and state actors. Søre Fagerfjord, which is named in the Svalbard Treaty, is being sold by the company that has owned it since 1910, Norwegian-owned AS Kulspids, which originally (and unsuccessfully) explored for coal and asbestos in the area. The previous remaining private property on the archipelago, known as Austre Adventfjord, was sold by a Norwegian family to the Norwegian state in 2016, for €26 million. The buyer will be restricted in their potential activity by Norway’s strict environmental laws, which prohibit any mining or other commercial use. Additionally, it must be purchased either by a country that ratified the Svalbard Treaty—of which there are 46, including Russia, China, and India—or by private persons who are citizens of such a country. The buyer would be allowed to build a satellite station on the property, and the purchaser of the land would gain an unprecedented position for surveillance and satellite communication in the High Arctic, as well as an opportunity to influence Svalbard’s governance. (Kulspids, NRK, The Barents Observer)

Additional Funding Allocated to Andøya Air Base

The Barents Observer reported on May 14 that the Norwegian government is enhancing security at Andøya Air Base, which will soon host long-range drones. In addition, an Arctic satellite station will be built in cooperation with the US. This investment includes an additional 37.5 million NOK (€3.2 million) for security measures. Andøya will support surveillance operations, disaster response, and allied military activities. (The Barents Observer)

Take 4: Norway’s choice to upgrade security at the Andøya Air Base, located about 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, in its revised budget is a testament to the country’s focus on the Arctic since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While the previous government planned to close the base by the end of 2024, it has since become a priority of the Norwegian Armed Forces, particularly for surveillance and other defense capabilities in the High North. The base will host long-range drones for surveillance and military operations involving NATO allies, but also for use in disaster response. A key component of this development is the establishment of an Arctic satellite station, created in partnership with the United States. This station aims to enhance missile defense capabilities, particularly against enemy cruise missiles. The decision to bolster Andøya’s security suggests that the Norwegian government feels a growing need to monitor vast Arctic areas more effectively, to both ensure national security and contribute to international co-operation. This initiative is also part of Norway’s broader effort to secure its northern territories amidst rising tensions with Russia, with which it shares its northernmost border, including by significantly investing in its armed forces. Norway’s proactive measures at Andøya underscore its commitment to maintaining stability and security in this increasingly contested region. The establishment of a robust Arctic drone base at Andøya positions Norway as a key player in Arctic security, enhances its strategic capabilities, and reinforces its role as a vital ally within NATO​. (Government of Norway, High North News, The Barents Observer)

Arctic Inspiration Prize 2024 Awarded in Whitehorse

Nunatsiaq News reported on May 8 that four Nunavut groups were awarded this year’s Arctic Inspiration Prize at the awards ceremony in Whitehorse, Yukon, receiving a combined $723,000 in prize money. The projects focused on combating food insecurity by teaching traditional fishing practices, developing employment skills for Inuit women, Inuktitut language revitalization, and getting youth engaged in food production across the North. The $1 million CAD main prize went to the Labrador-based Inotsiavik Centre, a youth-led initiative for revitalization of Inuttitut language and culture in Nunatsiavut. (Nunatsiaq News)

Take 5: The Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP), the largest annual prize in Canada, provides seed funding to Northern teams with innovative projects across the Canadian Arctic, from the Yukon to Nunatsiavut. This year, the 12^th annual AIP awarded over $3.2 million CAD to ten teams across Canada’s North to support their innovative projects aimed at improving Northern communities in various ways. The Inotsiavik Centre received the top prize of $1 million to establish a not-for-profit cultural center in Hopedale that will foster Inuttitut language and culture by providing accessible education and programming for Nunatsiavummiut. Other winning projects included initiatives to address food insecurity, mental health, cultural preservation, and youth engagement. One of the Nunatsiavut projects, Hebron and Nutak Reunions, also addresses the need for reparations to Inuit who were forcibly relocated from their homes in Labrador in the 1950s. These projects are crucial for the Arctic as they promote sustainable development, cultural revitalization, and community well-being in a region facing significant environmental and socio-economic challenges. The importance of these awards lies especially in their support for locally-driven solutions to unique Northern issues, fostering resilience and empowerment among Indigenous and remote Northern communities. This aligns with broader Arctic goals of sustainable development, linguistic and cultural preservation, and enhancing quality of life. The investment in diverse projects demonstrates a comprehensive approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges of the Arctic, showcases the diversity of Arctic innovation, and supports the region’s role in global discussions of climate change, Indigenous rights, and sustainability. (Arctic Inspiration Prize, CBC, Nunatsiaq News, UArctic)