Newsletter: The Arctic As Seen From Alaska
In February the Government of Greenland presented its Foreign, Security, and Defense Strategy 2024 - 2033. Titled 'Greenland in the World - Nothing about us without us'. Aaja Chemnitz, member of the Danish parliament for Greenland and Kenneth Høegh, Head of Greenland Representation to the United States and Canada, on stage at the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
Anchorage (High North News): Dear reader. The US Arctic is different from how we know it in the Nordics. This week, High North News is in Alaska, and we are assessing the atmosphere before the presidential election, among other things.
Editor and Commentator Arne O. Holm and the undersigned are currently in Anchorage, Alaska, to participate in the Arctic Encounter conference with about a thousand politicians, military officials, researchers, and others with northern interests.
Holm had a theory that here, in North America's red state, there must be an answer to how a "convicted narcissist could continue to rule America long after the voters have fired him as president," as he writes in this week's commentary.
How do you think that turned out?
One of the talks in Alaska concerns Greenland, which is stepping into the next decade claiming space and independence. “Nothing about us without us” is a power shift from Denmark,” says Aaja Chemnitz, Member of the Danish Folketing for Greenland, when we meet in Anchorage.
Defense
Significant investments are made in defense of the High North.
The defense cooperation between the US and Norway is taking off, now also into space.
Climate
The Arctic is rapidly warming, and as a result, wildland fires are sweeping across the region with devastating consequences. Forest fires out of control are becoming a major problem, says the leader of the Arctic Council during a conference debate.
Also read that scientists used artificial intelligence to analyze 125,000 satellite images of glaciers in Svalbard.
Derailment, fisheries, and gas
The mining company, LKAB, in Northern Sweden, is now cutting production due to the reduced capacity of the Iron Ore Line after the derailment.
And finally, the latest from the Russian gas industry.
You can read about this and more at High North News. Holm and I have a few days left in Alaska, so follow along.
We wish you a wonderful weekend from "the 49th State."
Best, Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen