The first wave of global Arctic interest culminated in 2013 with China, India, Italy, Japan Singapore, and South Korea gaining observer status to the Arctic Council. In 2019, US Secretary Pompeo criticised Russia and China at the Arctic Council meeting in Kiruna, indicating that the US-Chinese rivalry extended into the Arctic. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 put the Arctic Council in peril, impelling Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership. The 2023 Russian suggested BRICS research station at Svalbard opens up for more non-Arctic countries to increase their presence.  

This side event will discuss how outside interests are playing out in the Arctic, who the non-Arctic actors are, and how the Arctic 8 should respond to these new realities. Is a unified response even possible?  

Speakers: 

• Acquino Vimal, Ambassador of India to Norway  
• Andreas Raspotnik, Senior Researcher, Nord University  
• Bård Ludvig Thorheim, Member of Norwegian Parliament, Høyre 
• Gørild Heggelund, Research professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute  
• Marie-Anne Coninsx, Former EU Arctic Ambassador and Senior Associate Fellow, Egmont Institute 

Moderator:  

• Iselin Stensdal, Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute

Host: Nord University. Co-host: Fridtjof Nansen Institute

This is an Arctic Fronters Conference side event. Streaming is available for conference participants.