Notable & quotable from the Arctic: May 12–16

Greenland Assumes Arctic Council Chairmanship

On May 12, Greenland officially took over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council during a meeting in Tromsø, Norway. This transition occurs amidst heightened geopolitical tensions, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. Greenland’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, emphasized the island’s commitment to independence while maintaining cooperative ties with the U.S.

“We have been very clear in our politics, that we don’t want to be Danes but we don’t want to be Americans, either.”
— Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland’s Foreign Minister
Arctic Today

Arctic Council Maintains Unity Amid Geopolitical Tensions

As Norway concluded its two-year chairmanship of the Arctic Council, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide reflected on the challenges faced during this period, particularly due to Russia’s war in Ukraine and rising unilateralism from the U.S. under President Donald Trump. Despite these tensions, Eide emphasized the importance of maintaining the council’s unity and functionality.The Guardian

“We were able to keep it together. And in contrast to some other formats, nobody has left and nobody has suggested that we should not continue our work.”
— Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s Foreign Minister
The Guardian

Greenland Seeks Enhanced U.S. Defense Agreement

Greenland’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, expressed a desire to extract greater benefits from a longstanding 1951 defense agreement with the United States, advocating for expanded cooperation in areas such as climate change, education, and business.

“We want to strengthen our cooperation with the U.S. in areas beyond defense, including climate change, education, and business.”
— Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland’s Foreign Minister
Reuters

UK and EU Target Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’

The UK and EU have imposed new sanctions targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers operating in Arctic waters. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of these measures in undermining Russia’s war efforts.High North News

“We will do everything in our power to destroy his shadow fleet operation, starve his war machine of oil revenues and protect the subsea infrastructure that we rely on for our everyday lives.”
— UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer
The Barents Observer

UK Invests in Arctic Sea Ice Thickening Research

The UK government is investing £10 million in research to explore whether Arctic sea ice can be artificially thickened. The project involves pumping seawater onto winter ice to increase thickness, with initial field trials set to begin in Canada.

“We must confront the climate crisis with innovative solutions, and controlled trials are necessary to inform future strategies.”
— Professor Stuart Haszeldine
The Times