High North News - News, analysis and debate about politics and business in the North

Survey for Arctic Way Soon to Be Completed

Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): The seabed survey for the subsea cable Arctic Way will soon be completed. It will replace the old cable to Svalbard, but also establish a connection to Jan Mayen.

Den norske fregatten KNM Thor Heyerdahl ledsager USS Gerald R. Ford utenfor norskekysten. Hangarskipet er atomdrevet, 333 meter langt, 76 meter høyt – og 78 meter bredt. Om bord er et mannskap på rundt 4500 personer, og rom for rundt 90 fly og helikoptre. (Foto: Edward Valentin Coates/Forsvaret)

Extensive Training Activity in the High North With US Carrier Strike Group

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has recently been training with Norwegian and other allied forces off the coast of Northern Norway. "Our partnership with US forces is close despite changes in US security policy," says the Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters.

Russiske trålere Svalbard

Norway Worried About a Possible Shadow Fleet by Svalbard

A company of unknown origin has applied for a permit to transfer Russian liquefied natural gas from ship to ship in a fjord in Svalbard. The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection fears that this involves ships from the Russian shadow fleet and has asked the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security for advice.

Notices

BUSINESSARCTIC LIVING / 11.09.2025

Norwegian Launches New Direct Flight to Svalbard

Next summer, Svalbard will have a new route to Oslo after Norwegian closed…

BUSINESS / 11.09.2025

LKAB With Billion Investment in New Mining Facility in Gällivare

LKAB is to build a new sorting plant by the mine in Malmberget, Gällivare,…

SCIENCE / 08.09.2025

Alaskan Island is Sinking

Shishmaref, a small village in Alaska, has been named as one of five…

BUSINESS / 08.09.2025

Sweden's Sami Fear for Future Amid Rare Earth Mining Plans

Sweden's indigenous Sami fear they will lose their livelihood and culture…

Markus Thonhaugen, Nepal

Stories of Frustration from the «Third Pole»

I came to Kathmandu for a conference. I left as the airport shut, protests turned deadly, and the prime minister resigned. These are the impressions I carried home, says Markus J. Thonhaugen at the High North Center.

Newnew Polar Bear convoy

Deepening Russia-China Relations Continue to Drive Oil, Gas, and Container Traffic Along Arctic Shipping Lane

Arctic transit shipping continues to be dominated by Russian-Chinese economic ties, a new CHNL analysis shows. Though an upcoming expansion of container service will bring Western European ports into the mix.

High North News investigates: The Russian Gas Flow

Newnew Polar Bear convoy

Deepening Russia-China Relations Continue to Drive Oil, Gas, and Container Traffic Along Arctic Shipping Lane

Arctic transit shipping continues to be dominated by Russian-Chinese economic ties, a…

Also see

Deliveries of Russian LNG from Yamal Hold Steady, EU Transshipment Ban Showing Little Effect

EU Sanctions Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels Routinely Passing Through Norwegian Waters, Stopping at Honningsvåg

Russia to Earn $160bn in Taxes From Northern Sea Route by 2035, Arctic Region Accounts for 7.5 Percent of GDP

Eventin

Norway to Inspect Sanctioned Tankers in Efforts To Curb Russian Shadow Fleet

Norway has announced to begin inspecting foreign-flagged tankers passing through its…

Arc7 at Sabetta

French Shipyard Halts Service for Russian LNG Fleet, Leaving Danish Yard as Sole Western Provider

A French shipyard’s decision to stop servicing Russian liquefied natural gas vessels…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

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…

Northvolt, Skellefteå

Northvolt Acquisition: Announcing New Leadership for Battery Company

US-based battery company Lyten recently entered into an agreement to acquire remaining Northvolt assets in Europe, including its factory in Skellefteå, Northern Sweden. Lyten has also announced key roles in the new leadership following the acquisition.

Sara Kulturhus i Skellefteå. Foto: Sven Burman

Population Decline for Northern Swedish Municipality

The population of Skellefteå decreased during the first half of 2025. The decline comes in the wake of the bankruptcy of the battery manufacturer Northvolt.

Danske soldater under øving på Grønland. (Foto: Det danske forsvaret)

Arctic Light 2025: Denmark to Hold Military Exercise in Greenland with NATO Allies

On Tuesday, the Danish Armed Forces will commence a major exercise in Greenland, with contributions from France, Germany, Sweden and Norway. The aim is to strengthen Denmark and NATO’s operational readiness in the region, as well as provide support for civil preparedness.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

Norway's 2025 Election: The Election In Which Half of Norway Was Overlooked and Forgotten

Comment: The Norwegian parliamentary election of 2025 will go down as the election in which half of Norway was ignored and forgotten. That is both striking and scary. The gentle attempts at putting the High North on the agenda were arrogantly dismissed.

New Project: What Does It Take to Get Students to Stay In the North?

Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): Students in the North move southward after completing their studies. A new project will now explore what it takes to make the students stay, live and work in the North.

Arctic Ocean Expedition 2025

Arctic Ocean Expedition 2025 Has Reached the North Pole

On Tuesday, the Arctic Ocean Expedition 2025 reached the North Pole. The UiT-led expedition is to provide new knowledge about the Arctic's climate history with the help of the research vessel Kronprins Haakon.

The China-flagged research vessel JIDI

Chinese Research Vessels Enter U.S. Extended Continental Shelf in Arctic, Coast Guard Monitors with Icebreaker ‘Healy’

Chinese activity in the American Arctic continues to draw the attention of the U.S. Coast Guard. Two Chinese research vessels entering the Extended Continental Shelf now triggered a response by icebreaker Healy.

Natalia Andreassen, professor ved Senter for beredskap og samvirke – Nordlab, Nord universitet. (Foto: Nord universitet)

Norway Plans to Establish State Preparedness Hub Near the Border With Russia: "An Important Measure"

The Norwegian government wants to strengthen preparedness and state presence in Eastern Finnmark, Northern Norway, with a new hub. This will boost Norway's ability to manage crises in the High North, believes Professor Natalia Andreassen.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

A Breakdown That Could Lead to an Ecological Disaster

Comment: If anyone still wonders whether Norway is deeply involved in Russia's war against Ukraine, they should take a look at the threats against the Norwegian-Russian fisheries agreement. Add a US threat to the Norwegian Oil Fund, and a perfect storm is brewing around two of our most important resources.

Russian Trawler Zvezda Murmana in Båtsfjord, North Norway.

Russia Warns Norway of Retaliation Over Fishing Companies Ban: “Must Be Taken Seriously”

"The fisheries cooperation between Norway and Russia has survived several previous crises, but none can be compared to the situation we are currently facing," says Anne-Kristin Jørgensen, Senior Researcher at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute.

Frankrikes utenriksminister Jean-Noël Barrot (MoDem). (Foto: Philémon Henry/Frankrikes utenriksministerium)

French Foreign Minister in Nuuk: "France Stands By Greenland"

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot visited Nuuk this weekend to demonstrate France's solidarity with Greenland and Denmark, as well as to develop cooperation with the Greenlandic government.

Nordkapp Patrol

U.S Destroyers, Norwegian Frigate Patrol Arctic North Cape as NATO Forces Search for Russian Attack Submarines off Lofoten

U.S. and Norwegian naval forces conducted a joint patrol in the Barents Sea. The Arctic operation comes as part of a large exercise in the Norwegian and North Seas involving the USS Gerald R. Ford nuclear aircraft carrier and carrier group.

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