Arctic Europe is adjusting to new realities
In the latest BSR Policy Briefing, Markku Heikkilä from the Arctic Centre addresses the current situation in the Arctic region. The dynamics of international cooperation in the Arctic underwent a significant shift following Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022. Consequently, cooperation in the region has stagnated. Furthermore, the cooperative environment in the Arctic has become divided, and the region is experiencing warming at a rate about four times faster than global average. Who bears the responsibility for protecting and consistently safeguarding the Arctic region?
Arctic Europe and its partners
Artic Europe is not commonly agreed definition, but widely used. European Arctic region is different in character from what the region is mostly like. Artic Europe is divided to two halves, the EU countries, Finland and Sweden, and Norway, a non-member state. This division complicates the European Union’s role in the region, leading to ambiguity.
The North Calotte Council, operating under the Nordic Council of Ministers, has maintained a low profile for a long time, primarily focusing on facilitating border practicalities between Finland, Sweden and Norway. However, in January of this year, the Council announced its willingness to start discussions on the future of cooperation in the North. Canada naturally emerges as a potential partner for the Nordics, sharing same interests and values. Russia has been a significant partner in Artic affairs. Because of the war in Ukraine, cooperation with Russia has cut out but for them, Arctic has been and still is a key part of its national story.
Cooperation Amidst Global Tensions
The Arctic is often viewed as a peaceful environment conducive to cooperation and scientific collaboration, despite global disputes and political tensions. During the Cold War, there was little to governmental-level cooperation in the Arctic, nor were there any international Arctic networks established. Many organizations for cooperation were founded during the last decades. The Barents Euro-Arctic Council was established to promote contacts between northern regions of Europe, including Russia. Similar thing happened to the Arctic Council as well, but in more international level. However, all cooperation has stalled due to the war in Ukraine.
Nordic cooperation has included Arctic activities for a long time. Heikkilä argues that Nordic countries might hold the keys to make the Arctic co-operation survive through this very turbulent period. Other option could be cooperation within NATO.
Future of the Arctic Europe
What lies ahead for the Arctic region? Like during the Cold War, Arctic is once again divided to East and West, it is not just “North” anymore. Cooperation between these halves has slowed down. How should we start to see Arctic region? As a military theater or not, it is sure that we need to protect Arctic’s vulnerable nature and its inhabitants in all forms. In the Finnish context, understanding the precise aims of the current right-wing government regarding Arctic cooperation is not straightforward, as they haven't placed significant emphasis on it. If clarifying these objectives proves challenging at the national level, one can only wonder, what about the regional and local levels?
BSR Policy Briefing 3/2024: Arctic Europe and its Future
