Coverage

Alaska borough mayors oppose Governor Dunleavy’s current tax‑relief bill for the Alaska LNG project, citing potential $12‑$13 billion revenue loss and strain on local services, and call for adjustments before moving forward.

A massive lease sale on Alaska’s North Slope saw major oil giants ExxonMobil and Shell re-enter the Arctic, prompting hopes for new production and mounting environmental and indigenous opposition.

Canada and the town of Inuvik will jointly invest $10.89 million over three years to upgrade water and wastewater systems, bolstering Arctic security and enabling airport expansion.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a multi‑billion‑dollar military and infrastructure plan for the Arctic, prompting Inuit leaders to voice concerns over unmet health, education, and environmental needs.

A record federal lease sale in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve‑Alaska drew 11 bidders, including ExxonMobil and Shell, sparking debate over new Arctic oil development and environmental protection.

Arctic shipping surged 40% in 2025, with vessel distances nearly doubling, driven by ice-free seasons, resource projects, and stricter Polar Code regulations.

Massive winter seabird die‑offs along Western Europe’s Atlantic coast signal rising climate‑driven storm impacts, threatening Arctic ecosystems and necessitating coordinated flyway conservation.

Norway is boosting defence spending by 115 billion crowns to reach its NATO 3.5 % GDP target, while deferring some long‑range systems as it learns from the Ukraine war and commits to new submarines and frigates.

Drone strikes on Russia’s Baltic terminals pushed Moscow to use Murmansk as its main oil export hub, raising ecological concerns for Norway and prompting British and French interventions against shadow‑fleet tankers.

Alaska's northern coast has seen a 57‑day drop in landfast ice season in the Chukchi Sea and a 39‑day drop in the Beaufort Sea since 1996, threatening hunting, travel and oil‑gas ice roads.

The 9th Circuit Court reinstated federal critical‑habitat protections for ringed and bearded seals over ~160 million acres of Arctic Alaska, affirming NOAA’s 2022 designation and expanding regulatory review for oil and gas activities.

The Pribilof Islands witnessed the first confirmed marine mammal deaths from saxitoxin, with rising ocean temperatures spreading the toxin northward and jeopardizing the food security of local Unangax communities.

Danish Air Control Wing deployed 14 operators to Norway’s NATO exercise Cold Response in March, supporting air surveillance and joint operations in an Arctic setting to sharpen multinational readiness and interoperability.

Calgary‑based ATCO Ltd. acquired a 40 % stake in West Kitikmeot Resources Corp. for $10 M to support the $1.2 B Grays Bay Road and Port project, the first road‑connected deep‑sea port in the Arctic, with defence use.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals restored critical‑habitat protections for ringed and bearded seals across 160 million acres of Arctic Alaska, upholding NOAA’s designation amid state opposition over oil‑development impacts.

Danish forces in Greenland were ready to sabotage airfields if U.S. seized the island amid Trump’s push for Greenland; meanwhile China and Russia are expanding in Antarctica, raising security and resource concerns that could test the continent’s treaty‑based protections.

Three western navies boost unmanned maritime assets, testing V‑Bats in Arctic conditions and adding uncrewed surface vessels as they transition to hybrid fleets.

Greenland voters elected Naaja Nathanielsen and Qarsoq Høegh‑Dam to Denmark’s Folketing, bringing contrasting views on independence and resource policy that could shape Arctic governance.

A Ukrainian drone destroyed the FSB's newest Arctic vessel, underscoring rising security tensions in the Arctic.

Canada is debating expanding the Port of Churchill to create a northern trade corridor, weighing economic opportunities against environmental risks and Indigenous concerns.

U.S. and NATO allies concluded Cold Response 26, a multinational exercise in Norway, Sweden and Finland, conducting joint air combat, refueling and rescue operations under harsh Arctic conditions.

A Russian submarine, described as Putin’s favorite, has been returned to active service, increasing Russia’s naval capacity in the Arctic for strategic dominance.

Greenlandic candidates in Denmark’s upcoming election are using heightened U.S. interest to push for greater sovereignty, defense input, and economic autonomy, potentially reshaping Arctic governance.

Denmark, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden deployed troops to Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq in Greenland in early 2026 to deter a potential U.S. military action, following heightened tensions after a U.S. attack on Venezuela.

A 27‑year study shows the landfast sea‑ice season along Alaska’s Chukchi and Beaufort coasts has shrunk by up to 57 days, threatening hunting routes, oil‑gas ice roads and shoreline protection.