Newsletter: Fluid Borders

High North News presents an interesting development of Russian liquified gas making its way into Europe. 

Whereas imports of natural gas via pipeline have decreased substantially, the flow of Russian LNG into Europe continues unabated, with large volumes shipped by French major TotalEnergies. And it does not stop there. 

Minutes after the article was published, the AFP news agency announced that the French energy titan can now face legal action for “complicity in war crimes”.

 HNN will follow up on the case. 

The gust from Moscow 

Anchorage, Longyearbyen, Reykjavik. Editor-in-Chief Arne O. Holm’s journey through the Arctic, where fall is slowly transitioning towards winter, involves a cold gust from Moscow which sends shivers down people’s spines. 

“We who live in the North are used to dressing for cold and ice, but how do we protect ourselves from despots with blood on their hands?” asks Holm in this week’s commentary. 

Fall brings about more than cold temperatures. It is also the time of the year when Arctic leaders meet up in Reykjavik on Iceland to discuss, make agreements, and be updated on what is happening in the various corners of the Arctic. 

This year, three indigenous leaders took the main stage when the Arctic Circle conference was opened, and rarely has the message been clearer: you are welcome to cooperate but on our terms. 

The constant crises the world finds itself in are natural topics for discussion in Reykjavik. 

The US’ new Arctic strategy was discussed and it was praised by Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, among others. 

The US points to climate change, as well as the maintenance of international cooperation despite increasing strategic competition from Russia and China, as the main challenges in the region for the next decade. 

The new US strategy is vocal about Russia’s aggression in Ukraine by referring to it twelve times throughout the document. In the strategy document the US's role is viewed as an upholder of international law, rules, norms, and standards in the Arctic,” writes Alexandra Middleton in an op-ed to High North News. 

A new report on Finland’s role in the Arctic and the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also paints a challenging picture going forward for cooperation in the region.

Saturday HNN also broke the news of Chinas stand on The Arctic Council without Russia.

Sanctions and cooperation 

Increasing political pressure causes the Faroe Islands to now reevaluate their fishery cooperation with Russia. 

We can also report that the president of Turkey has signed a bill on the country's accession to the Svalbard Treaty. The bill will be processed in the parliament’s general assembly in the coming days. 

Read about this and more at High North News. 

There you have it – the week in the North. As the rector at Akureyri University said the other day; The cold is the new hot. Feel free to share the newsletter with other interested parties. 

Wishing you a good weekend on behalf of the editorial team, 

Sincerely, News Editor Trine Jonassen