Arctic Security Conference: Could There Be War in the Arctic? “We Should Be Concerned, but Not Afraid,” Says Researcher
Senior Researcher Andreas Østhagen at the High North Center for Business and Governance and the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in a debate with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth-Eide, moderated by Siri Lill Mannes at The Arendal Week 2024. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
"But Russia hardly wants a large-scale war with NATO," believes senior researcher Andreas Østhagen at the High North Center for Business and Governance and the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. On Thursday and Friday, international politicians, scientists and Arctic experts will meet in Oslo to discuss security in the Arctic.
On Thursday and Friday, the world's leading Arctic experts gather in the House of Literature in Oslo to discuss security policy challenges in the High North.
Senior researcher Andreas Østhagen at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute and the High North Center for Business and Governance says in a press release that the issue of war in the Arctic will be central to the debate.
"As a neighbor to Russia's nuclear weapons, we should be concerned and aware, but not afraid. Should a war escalate, we are central to dealing with Russia. At the same time, Russia unlikely wants a large-scale war, and the NATO countries' capacities and cohesion in the Arctic have improved much", says Østhagen.
How to avoid war
The conference aims to discuss how to avoid war in the High North, what the real danger of conflict is, and how different countries and societies deal with this threat.
Gathering the world's experts who work with geo- and security policy in the Arctic is both a good and necessary idea
An important aspect is to look beyond the Norwegian northern regions and show the contrasts and differences of, for example, the Canadian Arctic," says Østhagen.
He points out that there are many large Arctic conferences covering many topics and many small seminars on individual topics.
"But a gathering of the world's experts who work with geo- and security policy in the High North is both a good and necessary idea. We want to make the people of the south aware of the Arctic. Placing security policy in the capital as an abstract topic does not work," Østhagen believes.
Top heavy
The conference includes panels with leading scientists, politicians, and military experts from several Arctic nations. Among the speakers are Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide (Labor), and representatives from the USA, Canada, and Finland.
Although the conference primarily focuses on security policy, it is emphasized that these issues impact business and social development in the High North.
The conference is, therefore, intended as an opportunity to build a bridge between security policy assessments and practical consequences for the population in the Arctic.
Acting manager at the High North Center for Business and Governance, Jan Oddvar Sørnes. (Photo: Markus Thonhaugen/High North Center)
Important to be present
"The connection with business and social development is obvious. Geo- and security policy lays down guidelines and frameworks for what is possible at the local, regional, and national level," says Jan-Oddvar Sørnes, acting head of the High North Center, which co-organizes the conference together with the Fridtjof Nansen Institute and several international institutions.
"It is important that we are present where the High North is discussed, but with a focus on our core areas."
Østhagen emphasizes the importance of having expert environments from Northern Norway, such as the High North Center.
High North News also participates in the debate, with Editor and Commentator Arne O. Holm and Journalist Astri Edvardsen, together with the international press. The debate will address how and why the press covers Arctic security issues.
The Arctic Security Conference 2024 starts on Thursday and will also be streamed live for a wider audience. The debates will be in English.
