Newsletter A Geopolitical Hotspot

Russian bombers

Russian bombers at the Olenya Air Base on May 26. (Source: Sentinel 2)

Dear reader. No sooner has the NATO chief left the High North than a new delegation from the alliance is in place. In the meantime, Ukraine's bombs have fallen just a few miles from NATO's borders with Russia in the North. But good things are also happening, such as culture and human encounters. Here are the latest news from the High North.

Les nyhetsbrevet på norsk

Not unexpectedly, a report for 2024 shows that the Arctic climate is continuing to change at an alarming rate. But these findings are hard to translate into political action.

Now, on to the good news: music from the North. 

The world's northernmost orchestra is bringing its Arctic sounds to some of Europe's most prestigious venues this summer

Industrial news 

The Swedish government gives the go-ahead for a double track and a new double track and passing loop at parts of a vital railway stretch in Northern Sweden. (Norwegian only) 

And could Arctic shipping revive and transform South Korea’s southern ports? The new president believes so. 

Defense 

Russia’s Arctic region around Murmansk was a key target during Ukraine’s “Operation Spiderweb.”

All the while, Russia is rattling its sabers along NATO's borders in the Arctic, and the Norwegian prime minister warns against war and opens for increased allied exercises in the High North

Shortly after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Northern Norway, the Commander of Joint Force Command Norfolk is visiting the region this weekHigh North News is covering the visit, so stay tuned. 

Iceland’s Prime Minister also recently met with the NATO Secretary General, and earlier this week, the heads of government in all eight Nordic countries gathered in Finland

Economy 

Norway's Minister of Finance utilizes tax measures to get more young people into work.

“It is a good proposal and should also be applied to other vulnerable groups,” says commentator Arne O. Holm

On Monday, the minister opened the State Fund in Northern Norway, which will invest in Nordic small-cap listed companies

In the US, the Trump Administration plans to open large swaths of land on Alaska’s North Slope to oil and gas exploration.

Read about all this and more at High North News. Lots of interesting news is coming your way, so stay tuned. And feel free to share the newsletter.

Happy Pride from Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen

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