In this section, the main relevant security policies for the Arctic region issued by the Arctic States, Non-Arctic States and International Organizations have collected and briefly described. Click on the desired State or organization to learn more.
Arctic States
Canada
SECURITY POLICY
- Text(s)
Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy (September 2019)
Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy - Description (September 2019)
Strong, Secure, Engaged - Canada's Defense Policy (2017) - Year of Publication
2019
2019
2017 - Website
Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada - Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy
Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada - Strong, Secure, Engaged - Canada's Defense Policy - Published by
Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada - Previous Policies:
Statement on Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy: exercising sovereignty and promoting Canada’s northern strategy abroad, 2010 - The framework builds on an overarching goal which includes 6 objectives :
Main Goal: The Canadian Arctic and North and its people are safe, secure, and well-defended
- Objective 1: Strengthen Canada's cooperation and collaboration with domestic and international partners on safety, security and defence issues
- Objective 2: Enhance Canada's military presence as well as prevent and respond to safety and security incidents in the Arctic and the North
- Objective 3: Strengthen Canada's domain awareness, surveillance, and control capabilities in the Arctic and the North
- Objective 4: Enforce Canada's legislative and regulatory frameworks in the Arctic and North
- Objective 5: Increase whole-of-society emergency management capabilities in Arctic and Northern communities
- Objective 6: Support community safety through effective and culturally-appropriate crime prevention initiatives and policing services
Kingdom of Denmark
SECURITY POLICY
- Text(s)
Foreign and Security Policy Strategy 2019-2020
Defence Agreement 2018 - 2023 - Year of Publication
2018
2018 - Website
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark - Published by
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark - Previous Policies:
N/A - The main topics are, as stated in the first document "Foreign and Security Policy Strategy 2019-2020":
1. Rules-based international order
2. Security
3. Europe - a strong, streamlined and effective EU
4. Refugees, migration and development
5. Economic diplomacy, strategic partnership and the new digital world order
6. The Arctic
NOTES:
The second document "Defence Agreement 2018-2023" deals with:
- Denmark's contribution to NATO's collective deterrence and defence
- The Armed Forces' ability and capacity for international operations and international stabilisation efforts
- Defence's contribution to national security, e.g. in the event of terror attacks in Denmark
- The protection of Denmark against cyber attacks
- The National emergency preparedness
In addition, it provides a detailed economic assessment on new initiatives related to defence and security, providing concrete measures, e.g. purchasing military assets and defining troops positioning.
Finland
SECURITY POLICY
- Text(s)
Finland’s Strategy for the Arctic Region 2013 - Government resolution on 23 August 2013, 2013 amended with Government Policy Regarding The Priorities In The Updated Arctic Strategy, 2016 - Year of Publication
2013, 2016 - Website
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland - Arctic Cooperation - Published by
Prime Minister’s Office - Previous Policies:
The current Finland’s Arctic Strategy for the Arctic Region 2013 replaces the document “Finland’s Strategy for the Arctic Region 2010“ - Main Goals/objectives, as stated in the document:
• Strengthen multilateral Arctic cooperation
• Take part in the shaping of the EU's Arctic policy
• Raise Finland's profile as an expert in Arctic issues
NOTES:
1. Finland Arctic Strategy is intrinsically connected with the EU’s policy in the region, as to underline, once again, the pivotal role of Finland in rising the “Arctic attention” in the European Union: “The Government’s objective is to ensure that Finland is a leading actor in international Arctic policy, both in the EU and globally” (Government Policy Regarding the Priorities In The Updated Arctic Strategy”).
Iceland
ARCTIC POLICY
- Text(s)
A Parliamentary Resolution on a national security policy for Iceland - Year of Publication
2016 - Website
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland - Arctic Region - Published by
Ministry for Foreign Affairs - Previous Policies:
N/A - Main Goals/objectives, as extracted from the document:
1. Promoting and strengthening cooperation
2. Continue and strengthen cooperation under NATO
3. Continue and strengthen cooperation under the Defence Agreement of 1951 with the USA
4. Promote the Nordic cooperation in security and defence
5. Ensure the presence of sufficient capacities, equipment, infrastructures and experts in security and defence, and to fulfil Iceland's international obligations
6. Enhance cybersecurity
7. Take into account the threats generated by climate change, natural disasters, food security, health security and epidemics
8. Take into account other threats such as terrorism, organised crime and threats to the Nation's financial and economic security
9. Iceland and its economic zone is declared as a nuclear-free zone, taking account of international obligations, with a view to contributing to disarmament and peace
10. Establishment of a National Security Council
NOTES:
As Iceland is an Arctic State entirely located in the Arctic, its security policy may be related as an Arctic security policy.
Please consider this non-governmental and academic arcticle as a complementary paper for a more precise understanding of Iceland's security policy:
- Developments in Icelandic Security Policy (2013)
Norway
SECURITY POLICY
- Text(s)
Norway’s Arctic Strategy – between geopolitics and social development - Year of Publication
2017 - Website
Government of Norway - Published by
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation - Previous Policies:
The Norwegian Government’s High North Strategy, published in 2006, later followed it up with the report New Building Blocks in the North in 2009. In 2012, the Norwegian Government released another paper, a white paper, titled “The High North - Visions and Strategies”. - Main Goals/objectives, as stated in the document:
The overarching goals of the Norwegian Government remains unchanged in respect of the 2012 white paper “The High North - Visions and Strategies”; that is to say:
• Peace, stability and predictability
• Integrated, ecosystem-based management
• International cooperation and the international legal order
• A stronger basis for employment, value creation and welfareKey priorities in the Norwegian strategy are:
• continuation of a well-function international cooperation with Arctic neighbors
• securing a sustainable business development,
• a knowledge-based development of the Arctic,
• an infrastructure in tune with growth and the green transition and ensuring a responsible approach when it comes to environmental protection,
• safety, emergency preparedness and response
NOTES:
N/A
Russian Federation
SECURITY POLICY
- Text(s)
Russian Federation’s Policy for the Arctic to 2020 (unofficial English Translation) - Year of Publication
2008 - Website
N/A - Published by
Kremlin - President of Russian Federation - Previous Policies:
N/A - Main Goals/objectives, as stated in the document:
The basic national interests of the Russian Federation in the Arctic are:
a) use of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation as a strategic resource base of the Russian Federation providing the solution of problems of social and economic development of the country:
b) maintenance of the Arctic as a zone of peace and cooperation;
c) preservation of unique ecological systems of the Arctic;
d) use of the Northern Sea Route as a national single transport communication of the Russian Federation in the Arctic
NOTES:
N/A
Sweden
SECURITY POLICY
- Text(s)
Sweden's strategy for the Arctic Region - Year of Publication
2011,2015 (amd.) - Website
Government of Sweden - Published by
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Arctic Secretariat - Previous Policies:
N/A - Main Goals/objectives, as stated in the document:
• Climate and the environment (Climate, Environmental protection, Biodiversity, Climate and Environmental Research)
• Economic development (Free trade in the Arctic, Industrial policy interests in the Barents region, Economic interests in the rest of the Arctic, Educational and research needs)
• Human Dimension (Geographical conditions in the Arctic affect health, Climate change and hazardous substances affect the population, Impact on indigenous cultures and industries, The survival of Sámi languages, Knowledge transfer , Research programmes on Sámi society)
NOTES:
1. Similarly to Finland, Sweden’s Arctic Policy is strictly connected and aligned with the EU’s, as “Sweden will actively contribute to the ongoing development of an EU policy on Arctic issues”.
USA
SECURITY POLICY
- Text(s)
2009 National Security Presidential Directive 66/ Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25, Arctic Region Policy, amended by 2019 Department of Defense (DoD) Arctic Strategy
United States Coast Guard Arctic Strategic Outlook 2019 - The US Coast Guard's Vision for the Arctic Region - Year of Publication
2013, 2019 (amd.)
2019 - Website
Department of Defence - Published by
Department of Defense - Previous Policies:
The current Arctic Strategy updates the 2016 DoD Arctic Strategy. These documents build upon the 2009 National Security Presidential Directive 66/ Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25, Arctic Region Policy, and the 2013 National Strategy for the Arctic Region (NSAR).
- Main Goals/Objectives, as stated in the first document:
- Advance United States Security Interests – [The U.S.] will enable our vessels and aircraft to operate, consistent with international law, through, under, and over the airspace and waters of the Arctic, support lawful commerce, achieve a greater awareness of activity in the region, and intelligently evolve [U.S.’s] Arctic infrastructure and capabilities, including ice-capable platforms as needed. U.S. security in the Arctic encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, ranging from those supporting safe commercial and scientific operations to national defense.
- Pursue Responsible Arctic Region Stewardship – [The U.S.] will continue to protect the Arctic environment and conserve its resources; establish and institutionalize an integrated Arctic management framework; chart the Arctic region; and employ scientific research and traditional knowledge to increase understanding of the Arctic.
- Strengthen International Cooperation – Working through bilateral relationships and multilateral bodies, including the Arctic Council, we will pursue arrangements that advance collective interests, promote shared Arctic state prosperity, protect the Arctic environment, and enhance regional security, and we will work toward U.S. accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Law of the Sea Convention).
DoD must be able to quickly identify threats in the Arctic, respond promptly and effectively to those threats, and shape the security environment to mitigate the prospect of those threats in the future. The 2019 DoD Arctic strategy outlines three strategic ways in support of the desired Arctic end-state:
• Building Arctic awareness;
• Enhancing Arctic operations; and,
• Strengthening the rules-based order in the Arctic. - Main Goals/Objectives, as stated in the second document:
- Today's Reality
- The US Coast Guards in the Arctic
- Ensuring Long-Term Success
- Line of Effort 1: Enhance Capability to Operate Effectively in a Dynamic Arctic
- Line of Effort 2: Strengthen the Ruled-Based Order
- Line of Effort 3: Innovate and Adapt to Promote Resilience and Prosperity
NOTES:
N/A
Other International Organizations
NATO
- Text(s)
NATO and Security in the Arctic / The changing shape of Arctic security - Year of Publication
2017 - Website
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization - Published by
NATO - Main Goals:
- A political and military alliance
- Collective defence
- The Transatlantic link
- The 2010 strategic concept
NATO is an international organization focused on military and security issues. It is not a country by itself. NATO has not an Observer status within the Arctic Council.