Newsletter: A Shock Victory and Security Issues
High North News was present when Norwegian Chief FOH Lieutenant General Yngve Odlo formally handed over the chief's chair to Vice Admiral Rune Andersen. From left: New head of FOH, Vice-Admiral Rune Andersen, Norway's Chief of Defense General Eirik Kristoffersen and outgoing FOH chief Lieutenant General Yngve Odlo. (Photo: Hilde Bye / HNN).
Dear reader. This week we write about the Netherlands election that has sent shock waves through Europe, the Russian research cruise in Norwegian waters, defense policy, battery factories and the Law of the Sea. To mention a few. Here is the week that passed as seen from the North.
“In a traditionally liberal and democratic country, voters have flocked to the far-right Geert Wilders”, writes Holm, and believes this shows how fragile European democracy is.
Security policy is a persistent theme in the High North in several ways.
Friday, the Commander attended the ceremony for the new Chief of the Joint Operational Headquarters in Bodø. Here you can read journalist Hilde-Gunn Bye's report from the ceremony, which Kristoffersen attended. (Norwegian only)
Canada updates its defense policy; “Our Arctic sovereignty is increasingly being challenged by Russia and China,” says Canada's Minister of Defense.
Climate and the Law of the Sea
The consequences of global warming are changing the Arctic. The Barents Sea as we knew it, is no more, according to a new scientific publication.
In the US, the ratification of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea is considered critical to the US' interests, especially in the Arctic, according to the US Senator for Alaska. A new proposal to get the Senate to finally approve the convention is in motion.
Business news and the seal ban
In Norway, five counties account for almost 90 percent of all value creation in the Norwegian seafood industry. The Nordland region is at the top of the list. (Norwegian only)
Canada is about to host EU leaders at a summit. "This creates an unprecedented diplomatic opportunity for Canada to put the seal ban back on the table", says researcher Danita C. Burke.
Read this and more in High North News. Feel free to share the newsletter with other interested parties.
On behalf of the editorial staff, I wish you a good weekend,
All the best, News Editor Trine Jonassen