ARCTIC: Alaska’s Republican win & more – 26th Nov 2024

Bures from Keswick Village! This is the Rorshok Arctic Update from the 26th of November twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what’s going down North of the Arctic Circle!

The US election of early November can finally be drawn to a close after Alaska’s Division of Elections confirmed the state results on Wednesday the 20th. Nick Begich has won Alaska’s sole US House seat from Mary Peltola, flipping it from Democratic to Republican control. Alaskan results are often the most delayed in the US due to the remoteness of its rural communities.

Peltola was the state’s first Alaska Native member of Congress but with her loss to Begich, the Republican party confirmed it had taken control of the House of Representatives, sweeping all three branches of government in this election.

Meanwhile, in the Southeast of the state, a major mining project is facing uncertainty. On Thursday the 21st, news agency Northern Journal revealed that Japanese company DOWA Metals and Mining announced it is withdrawing from the Palmer Project, a controversial mineral exploration site near Haines, Alaska. DOWA cited rising costs and uncertain returns for its decision, which leaves Constantine Metal Resources, the project's Canadian partner, without a key backer. Environmental groups have long opposed the project, citing risks to local salmon habitats.

Let’s go across the Bering Strait to Russia, where the master plan to turn Russia’s Arctic into an economic powerhouse has a significant update. In a government meeting on Monday the 18th, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin commissioned the Federal Ministry of Construction to build a series of hubs for rescue and emergency operations along the Northern Sea Route. The instruction was made as part of an amendment to the country's Arctic Strategy, in an attempt to reassure private investors that the Russian government is taking safety seriously in its new plan for the Arctic.

Russia’s Arctic ambitions have been hampered by heavy economic sanctions from the US throughout Biden’s presidency, but the news of the incoming President Trump has emboldened Russia. The news agency High North News reported on Friday the 22nd that Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest shipping company, is preparing to deploy several of its new gas carriers to the sanctioned Arctic LNG2 gas terminal. Gas production and exports have been stalled at the terminal for months with sanctions preventing the sale of any natural gas, but the incoming US government’s more friendly stance towards Russia has encouraged the country to prepare for economic sanctions to ease and sales of natural gas to finally begin.

Russia’s growing isolation continues to strain Arctic diplomacy. On Thursday, the 21st, the Finnish government announced plans to exit the Barents Euro-Arctic Council after twenty twenty-five. Elina Valtonen, the Finnish Foreign Minister, stated that Russia’s membership renders the council ineffective as a platform for Finland’s northern cooperation efforts. Instead, Finland will focus on strengthening ties through other international bodies, such as the Nordic Council, to foster regional collaboration without Russian involvement.

With tensions in the Arctic running high, national defense is the priority for many countries. In Canada’s Yukon region, the Yukon Arctic Security Advisory Council released a report recommending the territory focus on its military infrastructure to be better prepared against threats. The report states that Canada’s north is currently not prepared for the scale of threats from China, Russia and natural disasters that may come. The report recommends improving roads, internet capacity, creating redundancies, and creating a public safety program to train civilians as generalists against environmental, technological and military threats to ensure the Yukon is prepared to defend itself at all times.

The Yukon is already fighting its own battles, but this time with the British crown. On Tuesday the 19th, the council of Dawson City, Canada, voted unanimously to remove the mandatory oath of allegiance to King Charles III for elected officials. The move follows concerns from Indigenous council members who view the oath as a symbol of colonial oppression. Bill Kendrick, Dawson City’s mayor, stated the council aims to reflect its community’s values. While legal experts note that removing the oath may require territorial or federal approval, the decision marks a growing push across Canada to reassess ties to the monarchy.

Defense might be a priority in northern Canada, but a bigger concern might be its child poverty rates. A new report released on Tuesday the 19th by advocacy group Campaign two thousand, which looks at child poverty rates across Canada, shows that over forty percent of under eighteens live in poverty in Nunavut, an increase of almost seven percent from the previous year. In contrast, Canada’s southern territories reported a much lower twenty percent child poverty rate. These figures have been attributed to the lack of social funding and the high cost of living in the Arctic. The report makes nearly sixty recommendations to reduce child poverty, the most important of which is adding a low-income supplement to the federal Canada Child Benefit, which could see an immediate reduction in poverty rates across the country.

Norway’s priority is national defense. Bjørn Arild Gram, the Norwegian Defence Minister, said in a briefing on Tuesday the 19th that the country is looking to make its biggest-ever investment in national defense. Norway’s military has set up a program to find a partner nation that will build up to six naval frigates for the country as it invests almost ten billion US dollars in vastly expanding its navy. Norway’s shortlist for a shipbuilding partner has been narrowed to France, Germany, the UK and the US, as it looks for an ally to support its needs for protecting the High North.

To keep track of military movements in the Arctic, there’s a link to the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ military activity tracker in the show notes.

The Norwegian islands of Svalbard have been struggling to manage a growing tourist industry while protecting its vulnerable environment. To ensure the protection of nature without harming locals, on Thursday the 21st, the Norwegian government proposed implementing a tourism tax in Svalbard. This tax will be used to support local infrastructure and services while tempering the growing numbers of tourists to the high Arctic islands. This proposal has now been submitted for public comment and has a consultation deadline of the 3rd of January, before going to a parliamentary vote.

Next up, The Faroe Islands are pushing for economic growth with a major new initiative. On Wednesday, the 20th, the Nordic investment firm Finest Faroe Group announced a $30–50 million US dollar fund aimed at supporting startups and established companies in sectors like renewable energy, aquaculture, sustainable fishing, and technology. The fund aims to drive diversification and long-term economic expansion across the islands.

In other economic news, Sweden’s Northvolt, a key player in Europe’s battery manufacturing ambitions, has hit a major obstacle. On Tuesday the 19th, Northvolt filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States. The company cited financial strain due to delays in its US and European factory expansions. Northvolt had planned to establish battery supply chains that would tap into Arctic minerals, like nickel and cobalt from northern Scandinavia and Greenland, to support Europe's green energy transition.

The company’s struggles could slow down efforts to develop sustainable industries and infrastructure in the Arctic, which are crucial for local economies pivoting away from fossil fuel dependency.

Closing this edition, unfortunately, Iceland is grappling with yet another volcanic eruption, threatening Christmas plans for residents of Grindavik. On Wednesday, the 20th, the Icelandic Met Office reported that the Sundhnúkur volcano erupted for the seventh time this year, with little warning. Authorities evacuated Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon tourist site without incident, but lava engulfed the Lagoon’s car park and damaged water lines.

By Sunday, the 24th, the Icelandic Met Office detected dangerous sulfur dioxide levels in Grindavik, warning against visiting the eruption site due to unhealthy air south of the volcano. Residents now face uncertainty during the holiday season once again.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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