Moscow has since spring 2021 headed the Arctic Council, a forum initiated by Finland 26 years ago, which has attracted increased importance as the international society worries about consequences of the ongoing climate crisis.
The work in the Council was put in pause mode a week after Russia’s ordered its all-out war on Ukraine last winter. None of the other circumpolar states wanted to have political contact with Moscow. The spillover effects from the war are still deeply troubling the consensus-based Arctic Council.
Now, Norway will do its best to gain momentum in what can be done with or without the largest of all circumpolar Arctic nations, Russia. “The work in the Arctic Council moving forward will reflect the current political reality. Nevertheless, we will do everything we can to ensure that the Arctic Council maintains its role as a forum for addressing the most pressing, cross-border challenges we are facing in the Arctic,” said Anniken Huitfeldt as she in Tromsø on Tuesday presented her country’s four priorities for the next two years period; climate, oceans, economic development and people in the north. Läs artikel