The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 10 February, 2025
A Military Base in Iqaluit?
As reported by Nunatsiaq News on February 10, Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre announced plans to build a permanent military base in Iqaluit if elected as Canada’s next prime minister. The base would support the Royal Canadian Air Force, house F-35 fighter jets and Poseidon P-8 surveillance aircraft, and serve as a hub for military operations in the Arctic. Announcing the plan at the Iqaluit airport, Poilievre said a base is needed to counter increased activity by Russia and China in the region. Poilievre also pledged to expand the Canadian Rangers and acquire two new polar icebreakers, to be funded by cuts to foreign aid. Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, who was not consulted ahead of the announcement, responded in a public statement emphasizing that Arctic policy decisions must be made in partnership with northern communities. (Nunatsiaq News)
Take 1: Pierre Poilievre’s pledge to establish a permanent military base in Iqaluit signals a potential shift in Canada’s Arctic security strategy. While geopolitical competition in the region has long been present, tensions are rising, particularly as Canada can no longer rely as consistently on the U.S, given the Trump Administration’s hostility to the sovereignty of other Arctic states. Poilievre’s announcement underscores the Conservative Party’s desire to assert sovereignty over its northern territories—albeit at the cost of Nunavut’s. Premier P.J. Akeeagok’s response highlights this tension, stressing that Arctic policies must be developed in partnership with northern communities, rather than imposed from the south.Akeeagok is valid in his concern over the lack of prior consultation with Nunavut leadership, which reflects a broader pattern of national security priorities taking precedence over local voices and rights. (Nunatsiaq News)
Sweden Approves Key Railway Projects in the North
On February 12, High North News reported that the Swedish Government approved several railway infrastructure projects in Northern Sweden. The primary project is the construction of a new section of the North Bothnia Line, extending from Dåva in Umeå to Skellefteå, aimed at improving commuter and freight transport in the region. The North Bothnia Line is a planned high-speed electric railway that will eventually extend to Luleå in Swedish Lapland, though the timeline and funding for the final segment of the railway are still under development. Additionally, plans to increase capacity on the Iron Ore Line, which connects Luleå to Narvik in Northern Norway, have been sanctioned. These improvements include expanding three junction stations and one railway area, with construction slated to commence between 2025 and 2027. (High North News)
Take 2: Infrastructure development in the Arctic is often controversial, with a variety of competing interests at stake. In the case of Sweden’s North Bothnia Line, the government aims to streamline commuting times and expand economic opportunities for workers in northern cities. These developments come in the context of Sweden’s interests in supporting iron ore and other mineral extraction, as the railways intend to serve commercial interests and freight transport as well as passengers. However, Sámi communities have raised concerns that construction work will disrupt reindeer migrations, criticizing the government’s refusal to include wildlife crossings in the project plans. This controversy reflects broader concerns surrounding Arctic infrastructure projects, where large-scale projects risk encroaching on Indigenous lands. Similar opposition arose over the proposed Arctic Railway across Finland and Norway, which would have cut through grazing pastures and dislocated reindeer migration patterns, threatening Sámi rights to traditional livelihoods. While improved connectivity is often framed as necessary for northern regions, these developments must also address the rights and needs of Indigenous communities. (High North News, Norran)
EU Directive to End Greenwashing in Lapland
According to The Barents Observer on February 11, the European Union’s new Green Claims Directive, also known as the “Greenwashing Directive”, will be implemented in Finland by late 2026. The directive requires businesses to provide verifiable evidence for their sustainability claims and bans vague terms like “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” unless scientifically substantiated. It also prohibits companies from claiming carbon neutrality based solely on offsetting. The directive will directly impact Arctic tourism businesses, including those inLapland, which must revise or remove marketing statements that do not meet the new standards. (The Barents Observer)
Take 3: The EU’s crackdown on greenwashing addresses the widespread issue of unsubstantiated sustainability claims, particularly in Arctic tourism, where the region is often branded as pristine and untouched—part of so-called ‘last chance’ tourism. This image is not only exaggerated but inaccurate, as four million people, including 500,000 Indigenous residents, have vibrant lives in the Arctic. As Arctic tourism grows, businesses must be held accountable for their impacts on the environment and local communities as they bring more and more people to the region, at times exacerbating environmental harm. In the short-term, the directive is costly for tour operators, requiring updates to marketing materials across platforms. However, by enforcing stricter regulations on greenwashing, the EU is encouraging more responsible practices and pushing businesses to back sustainability claims with concrete actions. In the long-term, this is crucial—not just for consumer trust, but for the integrity of the tourism industry and the Arctic’s overall health. (The Barents Observer)
Denmark Builds Arctic Defense Capabilities
On February 10, Eye on the Arctic reported that Denmark is shifting its naval expansion from Baltic-focused patrol vessels to Arctic-ready ships in response to evolving security priorities. According to Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, the move follows Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO as Denmark refocuses on strengthening defense capabilities in the Arctic and North Atlantic, particularly around Greenland. The new vessels will replace aging Thetis-class ships and are designed for Arctic conditions. Elements from previous Baltic ship designs will be repurposed to accelerate development. (Eye on the Arctic)
Take 4: Denmark’s decision to focus its naval expansion in the Arctic is not just a routine upgrade but a reflection of larger geopolitical tensions, notably underscored by President Donald Trump’s proposal to buy Greenland. For Denmark, strengthening its military capabilities in the Arctic is aimed at ensuring it can maintain sovereignty over Greenland. In addition, Sweden and Finland’s entry into NATO strengthens Baltic security, allowing Denmark to shift its focus northward. However, military presence in the Arctic is not just about national security. Increased shipping traffic, potential oil spills, and illegal fishing in Arctic waters present both security and environmental risks. A stronger naval presence will allow Denmark to better monitor and respond to these challenges. Denmark’s upgrades also mirror similar build-up by other NATO states, with Norway conducting rapid-response military exercises in the region and Canada planning major upgrades to its Arctic radar systems. (Eye on the Arctic)
Hygge Goes to Hollywood
On February 11, ArcticToday reported that a satirical campaign emerged in Denmark proposing to ‘buy’ California, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. The campaign includes a promise of universal healthcare, bike lanes in Beverly Hills, and a rebranded ‘Hans Christian Andersenland’ in place of Disneyland. The initiative has gathered over 200,000 signatures and aims to raise $1 trillion through crowdfunding. (ArcticToday)
Take 5: ‘Denmarkification’ is a direct response to Republican representative Buddy Carter’s introduction of a bill that would grant Trump the authority to buy Greenland, with a proposal to rename it “Red, White, and Blueland.” The U.S., like China and Russia, views Greenland as a strategic asset due to its vast untapped resources, its location along key Arctic shipping routes, and its role in military defense, particularly with the U.S. Thule Air Base. Trump’s renewed push reflects his broader vision of American expansionism, tossing aside soft power in favor of hard power to achieve economic and strategic gains. The bill itself exemplifies the performative nature of Trump-era politics, where grand, provocative proposals capture headlines and energize his base, even when their practical feasibility is questionable. For Republican lawmakers, backing such measures serves as a demonstration of loyalty to Trump, despite the very real consequences for citizens in the U.S. and abroad. The Danish satirical response is a clear sign of both the absurdity of territorial ambitions and growing European frustrations with Trumpian foreign policy. For Greenland, the proposal is disrespectful and more than just an economic or strategic question, but a matter of self-determination. As a semi-autonomous territory under Danish rule, Greenland has steadily pursued greater independence, and its government and people have firmly rejected any suggestion of U.S. ownership. Greenland’s government has made it clear that Greenland is not a commodity to be bought and sold but a nation with its own future to decide, most recently banning political parties from receiving foreign funding. As Denmark and the U.S. debate sovereignty over Greenland, it’s possible this could be a defining moment for Greenland to take a stand for its independence. (ArcticToday, ArcticToday, ArcticToday)