A gathering of the world’s leading Arctic security experts.

Arctic security relations are becoming increasingly tense. In the time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, deterrence has largely taken over from dialogue and cooperation in the High North. The Arctic is seeing increased military activity and cases of sabotage and provocation. At the same time, the debate about the geopolitical dynamics in the region is sometimes characterized by simple claims and misconceptions.

With increased tension and rapidly changing security dynamics, there is an urgent need for a research-oriented and nuanced exchange of perceptions about which mechanisms contribute to driving and mitigating conflict in the Arctic.

Arctic Security Conference 2024

Linking the North American and European Arctics

When: Thursday 12 & Friday 13 September, 2024

Where: Litteraturhuset, Oslo (Wergeland room – 200 seats + streaming)

Purpose: Contribute to enlightened debate about security policy in the north, dissemination of research

Organisers:

  • Fridtjof Nansen Institute (lead)

  • UiT: The Arctic University of Norway

  • North University; High North Center Nord University

  • The Norwegian Atlantic Committee

  • Norwegian Centre for Geopolitics

  • North American and Arctic Defence Security Network- NAADSN

  • Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies

  • US Coast Guard’s Center for Arctic Study and Policy

Format: Two full days with panels driven by conversations.

Lunch included both days, simple reception after day 1 at Litteraturhuset.

Day 1 - Thursday September 12 (Tentative program, subject to change)

09:15 - 10:00
Kaffe & registration

10:00 - 10:05
Introduction

Andreas Østhagen, Senior researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute & Associate Professor, Nord University

10.05 - 11.15
Setting the Stage: Arctic security and geopolitics at large

Chair: Anu Fredrikson, Executive Director, Arctic Frontiers Conference

  • Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway

  • Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada (tbc)

  • Christina Henriksen, Saami Council

  • Lisa Murkowski, Senator from Alaska, United States

  • Bridget Larocque, NAADSN Co-Lead and Chair, Northern Advisory Board Canada

  • Mike Sfraga, Chair of US Arctic Research Commission & Chair, Polar Institute, Wilson Center

  • Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State for Europe, United Kingdom

  • Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland (tbc)

  • Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France (tbc)

11:15 - 12.15
Arctic Security: What, where, and who are we talking about?

Chair: Whitney Lackenbauer, Professor and Canada Chair, Trent University

  • Abbie Tingstad, Research Professor, US Coast Guard Academy

  • Arild Moe, Research Professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute

  • Kristian Søby Kristensen, Senior Researcher, University of Copenhagen

  • Minna Ålander, Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs

12:15 - 13.10
Lunch (sandwich)

13:10 - 14.10
Arctic Cooperation: Does it play a role mitigating security concerns?

Chair: Svein Vigeland Rottem, Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute

  • Jennifer Spence, Director, Arctic Initiative, Harvard University

  • Serafima Andreeva, Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute

  • Gosia Smieszek, Postdoctoral researcher, UiT: Arctic University of Norway

  • Rob Huebert, Professor, University of Calgary

  • Kari Aga Myklebost, Professor, UiT: Arctic University of Norway

14:20 - 15.20
Arctic Governance: Risks, security challenges and lawfare

Chair: Elana Wilson Rowe, Professor, Research Professor NUPI/Associate Professor NMBU

  • Gørild Heggelund, Research Professor, Fridtjof Nansen Institute

  • Lawson W. Brigham, Professor, University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • Suzanne Lalonde, Professor, University of Montreal

  • Klaus Dodds, Professor, Royal Holloway University

  • Romain Chuffart, Nansen Professor in Arctic Studies at Akureyri University

15:20 - 15.50
Kaffe & boller

Chair: Arne O. Holm, Editor-in-Chief, High North News

  • Thomas Nilsen, Barents Observer

  • Astri Edvardsen, High North News

  • Morten Jentoft, NRK

  • Martin Breum, freelance Denmark

  • Gwladys Fouche, Reuters

  • Henry Tang, BBC

15:50 - 17.00
The Journalistic Perspective: How and why cover Arctic security issues?

17:00
Informal Reception & Mingling at Litteraturhuset

Day 2 - Friday September 13 (Tentative program, subject to change)

09:15 - 10:00
Kaffe, boller & registration

10:00 - 11:15
Arctic Operations: The defense and security perspective

Chair: Kate Hansen Bundt, Secretary General, The Norwegian Atlantic Committee

Political perspective:

  • Bjørn Arild Gram, Norwegian Minister of Defence (tbc)

  • Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Minister of Defence (tbc)

  • Iris Ferguson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience, US DoD

  • Randy ‘Church’ Kee, Director, Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies

Operational perspective:

  • Rune Andersen, Chief of Norwegian Joint Headquarters

  • Megan Dean, Rear Admiral District 17, US Coast Guard

  • Daniel Riviere, Bgen, Commander Joint Task Force North, Yellowknife

  • Caroline Hoefsmit, Lead Officer Arctic Hub, NATO

  • Sami Nurmi, Deputy Chief of Staff - Strategy, Finish Defence Forces

  • Alexandre Escoria, Assistant Defence Policy Director, French Ministry of Defence (tbc)

11:15 - 12:15
Polar Opposites: North American and European Arctic security

Chair: Gabriella Gricius, PhD Candidate, Colorado State University

  • Paal Sigurd Hilde, Professor, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies

  • Kristin Haugevik, Research Professor, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs

  • Stian Bones, Professor, UiT: Arctic University of Norway

  • Lise Wiederholt Christensen, PhD candidate, University of Copenhagen

  • Matthew J. Hickey, Associate Director, Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies

12:15 - 13.00
Lunch (sandwich)

13:00 - 14.00
Arctic Human Security: From Local to International

Chair: Marc Lanteigne, Professor, UiT: Arctic University of Norway

  • Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv, Professor, UiT: Arctic University of Norway

  • Silja Bara Omarsdottir, Professor, University of Iceland

  • Anthony Russell, Director, Center for Arctic Study and Policy, US Coast Guard Academy

  • Kelsey Frazier, Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies

14:00 - 15.00
Does Arctic Geopolitics Matter for the World?

Chair: Andreas Raspotnik, Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute & Nord University

  • Nathalie Tocci, Director, Istituto Affari Internazionali

  • Iver B. Neumann, Director, Fridtjof Nansen Institute

  • Steven Miller, Professor, Belfer Center at Harvard Kennedy School

  • Uttam Sinha, Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

  • Yang Jian, Professor, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies