Pan Arctic Forum

The Arctic Institute published an article titled, “Russian Strategic Intentions in the Arctic”. The article reads in part as follows:

Pavel Devyatkin was invited by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and Joint Chiefs of Staff to contribute to a Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) white paper called “Russian Strategic Intentions“. The publication is part of a series entitled The Future of Global Competition and Conflict. The white paper provides wide-ranging assessments of Russia’s global interests and objectives.

South China Morning Post published an article titled, “The Arctic is the next geopolitical hot spot that the US wants to freeze China out of”. The article reads in part as follows:

The Hill published an article titled, “China, Russia move into the Arctic — and put US at risk”. The article reads in part as follows:

Last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called out Russian and Chinese activities and intentions in the Arctic, shocking his fellow foreign ministers at the biannual meeting of the Arctic Council, the premier regional forum for Arctic matters.

Pompeo disturbed a norm that had held since the council’s 1996 founding. For over 20 years Arctic states have attempted to compartmentalize Arctic cooperation on scientific research, environmental protection, fisheries management and search and rescue protocols — avoiding hard-power competition in military security and trade.

The New Yorker published an article titled, “The U.N. Report on Extinction vs. Mike Pompeo at the Arctic Council”. The article reads in part as follows:

Washington Examiner published an article titled, “US rebuffs China’s attempt to play a role in governing the Arctic”. The article reads in part as follows:

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will have a terse message for China at an upcoming meeting of the Arctic Council: Stand down.

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1380 AM WPHM published an article titled, “Pentagon warns about China’s increased activity in the Arctic, growing ambition to expand its presence”. The article reads in part as follows:

China is increasing its activity in the Arctic, building a second ice-breaking ship and looking to expand its footprint in Greenland, according to a new Pentagon report, and Beijing’s presence in the region could lead to the deployment of armed submarines, the report warned.

The warning comes as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo prepares to attend a summit of the Arctic Council, the eight countries with territory in the region, and hopes to rally them to counter Chinese influence.

EURACTIV published an article titled, “Pompeo on EU tour with Arctic stopover”. The article reads in part as follows:

Pompeo heads to Berlin on 7 May to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel and a day later will see Prime Minister Theresa May in London, the State Department announced Wednesday.

Merkel has not hidden her differences with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly taken the unusual step of criticizing the close ally, especially over the chancellor’s welcome of migrants.

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High North News published an article titled, “What the Arctic Council has Achieved during the Two-year Finnish Chairmanship”. The article reads in part as follows:

For two years, Finland has been leading the Arctic Council. It is time to look back at what it has accomplished during this time under the Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini and the Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, Ambassador Aleksi Härkönen’s leadership.

High North News has reached out to ask them what they think is Finland’s greatest achievement during these past two years, and what they wish they could have accomplished but did not.

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Devex published an article titled, “Advice from the Arctic: 4 key development challenges facing the far north”. The article reads in part as follows:

Remote villages that lack reliable electricity access. Poorly built homes with no indoor plumbing. Food insecurity in a community practicing traditional subsistence hunting and fishing. Stubbornly persistent poverty in rural pockets. Environmental concerns as multinationals hunt for oil, gas, and minerals.

This slate of issues sounds like textbook development challenges afflicting low- and middle-income countries. But the ones in question here can be found in the United States, Canada, Russia, and to a lesser extent the Nordics — among the richest countries on the planet.

Uutiset published an article titled, “Thursday’s papers: Winter weather returns, US Secretary of State in Finland next week, kidnapped baby found”. The article reads in part as follows:

Daily Helsingin Sanomat (HS) reports that temperatures will drop dramatically in southern Finland with a return to winter on its way after the summer-like warm sunny weather enjoyed on May Day, which was a public holiday in Finland. HS also issues a warning that driving conditions on Friday in many parts of Finland will be dangerous owing to snow and sleet showers.