[3] The Norwegian Arctic policy concerns topics of environmental degradation, resource extraction, military presence, and fisheries to mention some.
[1] In the 1970s when Norwegian politicians were making foundational and strategic work on its Arctic Policy the term "Nordområdene" (Northern areas) was coined.
[11] The new strategy identified four main areas that Norway was to focus its strategic efforts towards, based on shares Norwegian values and norms.
[12][7] Sametinget now serves as an advisory political tool to strengthen the indigenous people's role in discussions of resource development and sovereignty of ancestral land.
[1] In Norway's geopolitical work they aim to continue to emphasize the importance of the rule of law, as well as strong multilateral structures.
[6] Due to Norway's geography and prosperous coastline, it has an extensive merchant fleet, a large fishing industry and valuable oil and gas resources.
[13] Norway has a series of policies and instruments it utilizes to manage its northern territories and gain power and influence in the Arctic region.
[14] The Arctic policies range from leadership roles in regional and transnational councils to climate change research and welfare for the population in the northernmost areas.
St. 9 (2020–2021) titled “ Mennesker, muligheter og norske interesser i nord" (People, Opportunities and Norwegian interest in the North) is the latest official full-text Arctic policy of Norway.
[9] Furthermore, as the Arctic ice sheet continues to melt due to climate change, the Norwegian Government wishes to build capacity to handle future issues relating to the environment and national security.
[15] The official policy document highlights four major issues: Ocean, Climate and environment, sustainable economic development, and people in the north.
Furthermore, considering changing geopolitical and security conditions in the Arctic, the policy means will contribute to supporting professional and international structures of cooperation in the high north.
[16] On March 12, 2009 Norway released the report "New Building Blocks in the North" which identifies seven priority areas: 1) climate and the environment; 2) monitoring-emergency response-maritime safety in northern waters; 3) sustainable development of offshore petroleum and renewable marine resources; 4) onshore business development; 5) infrastructure; 6) sovereignty and cross-border cooperation; and 7) the culture and livelihoods of indigenous peoples.
[18] As a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine the Norwegian foreign ministry has frozen and paused the nuclear waste cooperation in North-West Russia.
[19] In the 2011 central government budget, a total of NOK 1.2 billion was set aside for initiatives in the High North, a significant portion of which was earmarked for research.
Historically, Norway has prided itself upon neutrality in global conflict, and peace remains the strongest principle for Norwegian foreign policy.
However, after the German occupation during WW2 and later Soviet militarization in their bordering Arctic areas, Norway had to break its long pact with neutrality in favor of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
During the cold war, there was an especially thorny question surrounding the stationing of foreign military bases in the arctic regions of Norway.
[13] The Norwegian Navy was heavily strengthened during the Cold Wr; however, Norway also has an air force, home guard, and army to protect its territories.
[13] Every two years the military exercise "Joint Viking" is hosted in Norway for NATO alliance soldiers and partner nations to practice warfare and survival in the Arctic.
Later in the 60's there were also vast concerns within the alliance around Soviet nuclear submarines entering Atlantic shipping lanes and passing through the strategic Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap.
[13] To defend the vast and sparsely populated arctic areas in northern Europe, NATO established a department with its headquarters outside of Oslo.
[13] In March 2023, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre to thank Norway for the key strategic security contributions it has given to the alliance.
They will in their chairman strategy outlined four main strategic priority topics: the oceans, climate and environment, sustainable economic development, and people in the north.
[28] It was founded in the post-war period by Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, after a number of failed attempts at forming a common Nordic cooperation.
[6] The Norwegian delegation has placed especial emphasis on the importance of Nordic cooperation considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis and climate change.
[34] The commercial activities in Barentsburg are hardly profitable, but for Russia it is a way of exercising its right to land on Svalbard and can in many eyes be viewed as a strategic geopolitical affair.
Norway will in addition continue its efforts in supporting and strengthening international ocean research collaboration and action against marine pollution.
[36] After world War II scientific knowledge on polar ice sheets became important for both the Soviet Union and the USA for future military strategies.
[44] Today the topic remains contentious, and the Norwegian government and the state-owned energy company Equinor are often met with widespread criticism and protest when they wish to grant new drillings sites.