The Arctic Debrief:Nordic states agree to create cross-border military corridors

In this edition:

• Nordic states agree to create cross-border military corridors
• Norway charges Russian spy with espionage in the Arctic
• Russia to construct logistics hubs across Northern Sea Route

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Latest Developments

Nordic states agree to create cross-border military corridors

Nordic Ministers of Defense met in Copenhagen to discuss increasing their nations' collaboration on a policy and military level. During this meeting, the ministers signed agreements to work on a military corridor, which would allow the rapid deployment of NATO forces and to make their national airspace available for allied aircraft.

The countries also agreed to endorse initiatives that will help the Nordic states ramp up ammunition production as well as develop and manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, the ministers met with Ukraine's Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, to emphasize the need for continued support for Ukraine and the need to deter Russian aggression.

Other topics discussed at the meeting included forming a NATO forward response force on Finnish territory, similar to the ones deployed across the Baltics. The purpose of the units is to delay a potential attack from Russia and to secure strategically vital locations that would allow for further NATO deployment into those countries.

Norway charges Russian spy with espionage in the Arctic

Norwegian security forces have arrested a 27-year-old man who is accused of espionage and sharing information with the Iranian and Russian governments. The man was arrested in Oslo, but has taken multiple trips to Kirkenes, a northern town bordering Russia.

The court overseeing his case file has placed the man in police custody for four weeks while additional evidence is gathered. The man is facing two charges: "aggravated intelligence-gathering activity targeting state secrets" and "other unlawful intelligence-gathering."

Court documents indicate that the man admitted to collecting and sharing information with foreign states, but denies committing espionage. He also co-owns a security company with another individual that holds dual-citizenship, one from Norway and one from an unnamed Eastern European nation.

Allegedly, the man worked as a security guard at the US Embassy in Oslo. While working there, he kept track of visitors and reported them to Russian and Iranian authorities. The police is not sure if other intelligence was gathered and shared, hence requesting additional time to investigate him and his company.

Russia to construct logistics hubs across Northern Sea Route

The Russian government is planning to construct multiple rescue and emergency operation hubs along the Northern Sea Route to support shipping in the region. Russia is betting on the shipping route to receive increased traffic as global temperatures rise and Arctic sea ice is at an all time low.

Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, has ordered the Ministry of Construction to prepare plans for the project, which he wants ready by March 1, 2025. Mishustin specified that he wants designs for the hubs and a budget.

The hubs will be built in five towns along the Northern Sea Route, including Pevek, Sabetta, Dikson, Tiksi, and Khatanga. The project is estimated to cost €64 million and to be completed by 2032.

In addition to these hubs, Russia is collaborating with China to further develop the route via agreements to develop icebreakers, ice-capable vessels, and through investments in Arctic infrastructure.