The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 2 June, 2025

US Coast Guard Deploys New Interim Icebreaker on Maiden Voyage

As reported by The Maritime Executive on June 4, the US Coast Guard’s newly acquired icebreaker Storis departed on its maiden voyage from Pascagoula, Mississippi on June 3rd. Originally built in 2012 as Aiviq and previously chartered by Royal Dutch Shell for oil exploration in the Chukchi Sea, the vessel was acquired and modified in six months to enhance its communications and self-defense capabilities. The 15,000-ton, Polar Class 3-equivalent icebreaker will be formally commissioned in August in Juneau, Alaska, which will serve as its future homeport. Until then, it will be berthed in Seattle. (The Maritime Executive)

Take 1: For decades, the US has lagged behind in Arctic maritime capability, operating with only two functional polar icebreakers in the region – the aging Polar Star and Healy – while Russia commands a fleet exceeding 40, including several nuclear-powered vessels, and China continues to expand its Arctic presence. As melting sea ice renders the Arctic more navigable, global powers are increasingly vying for influence, challenging the US’s ability to shape Arctic governance. In response, the US has now launched its first Arctic icebreaking vessel in 25 years. The 15,000-ton Storis, a converted commercial icebreaker retrofitted for military use, offers limited but much-needed operational capacity during the delayed arrival of the Polar Security Cutters, the first of which is now projected for delivery by 2030 (six years behind schedule). The long-standing “icebreaker gap” has hampered the US Coast Guard’s ability to perform year-round operations in the region, including search and rescue, environmental response, and defense support. The Storis offers an interim solution and symbolizes a shift in US strategic posture, highlighting the urgency Washington attributes to enhancing its Arctic capabilities amid rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics. By integrating efforts through the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) – a partnership between the US, Canada and Finland to bolster icebreaker production and operational cooperation – the US aims to strengthen alliances and expand industrial capacity. While Storis alone cannot bridge the capability gap, its deployment marks Washington’s recognition that presence equals power in the High North and underscores the nation’s resolve in addressing emerging security challenges in the region. (gCaptain, High North News, Stars and Stripes, The Maritime Executive) 

Trump Administration Seeks to Lift Environmental Restrictions on Arctic Drilling

Alaska Beacon reported on June 2 that the US Department of the Interior announced plans to lift some environmental restrictions for development within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, reversing Biden-era protections and eliminating barriers to oil and gas drilling. The move was announced during an official visit to Alaska by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zelding. A public comment period is now open with final decisions pending. (Alaska Beacon)

Take 2: Trump’s decision to rescind Biden-era protections in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) has ignited significant backlash. While the administration frames the move as a step towards energy independence, critics argue that it threatens the fragile Arctic ecosystems and disregards Indigenous rights. Environmental organizations, including Defenders of Wildlife and Earthjustice, have condemned the rollback, highlighting potential harm to critical habitats for caribou, migratory birds, and other Arctic wildlife, like Teshekpuk Lake, located in the northeast of the NPR-A and the largest lake in Arctic Alaska. Increasing resource extraction in the region also impacts traditional subsistence practices and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples such as the Gwich’in, which raises fears of irreversible cultural and environmental degradation. However, despite the administration’s push for increased extraction in the High North, drilling companies have shown limited interest so far. A recent lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), for instance, received no bids, reflecting industry hesitancy, not least due to the high operational costs. While Trump officials were promoting expanded fossil fuel development during the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, several protests erupted in Anchorage. Demonstrators criticized the administration’s focus on oil and gas, advocating instead for sustainable energy solutions to protect Alaska’s unique ecosystems. This underscores the complex interplay between energy policy, environmental conservation and Indigenous rights. While the administration seeks to boost domestic energy production, the current lack of industry enthusiasm and strong public opposition suggest that the path forward is not as straightforward as Trump likes to suggest. (Alaska Beacon, AP News, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Financial Times, High North News)

Finland Advances Sámi Parliament Reform Bill

As reported by Eye on the Arctic on June 4, the Finnish Constitutional Affairs Committee, endorsed reforms to Finland’s Sámi Parliament Act, moving the bill closer to approval. The proposed law aims to enhance Sámi self-governance, revise electoral roll criteria, and establish an independent appeals board. The Sámi Parliament supports the changes, which also streamline election procedures and clarify the government’s duty to consult the Sámi. The Sámi Parliament Board will review the amendments on June 6, with further steps pending before the bill turns into law. (Eye on the Arctic)

Take 3: Finland’s Sámi population has long faced systemic obstacles to self-determination. The existing Sámi Parliament Act has been criticized for violating international human rights treaties, particularly concerning the criteria for electoral roll inclusion. Both the United Nations and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) have urged Finland to amend its laws to eliminate discrimination against Sámi voters and enhance their ability to manage their own affairs, especially as their languages and culture face existential threats. In the past, Finnish courts have intervened in the Sámi electoral process multiple times. Most recently, in March 2024, Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court annulled the election results of the Sámi Parliament and ordered the reinstatement of 65 voters on the electoral roll who the Sámi deemed ineligible, resulting in the submission of a written statement to the UN Human Rights Committee in May last year. The proposed reform, which failed in the last three parliamentary terms, seeks to rectify issues by revising the electoral roll to focus solely on the right to vote and stand for election, rather than determining who qualifies as a Sámi. This approach mirrors practices in neighboring Sweden and Norway, where language-based criteria are used. Additionally, the reform introduces an independent appeals board to handle disputes over the electoral roll, replacing the current system where the Sámi Parliament Board has the final say. These changes aim to ensure a more impartial and transparent process. Finland’s reform can be seen as a response to both domestic advocacy and international pressure. (Eye on the Arctic, Eye on the Arctic, France24, Yle)

Danish PM Stands Firm Against US Pressure to Cede Greenland

Reuters shared on June 5 that Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen during Denmark’s national day celebrations, declared that Denmark will not yield to “unacceptable” US pressure to gain control over Greenland. She affirmed the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination and warned that principles of sovereignty and international order are being threatened. (Reuters)

Take 4: US President Trump’s persistent push to acquire Greenland has intensified geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, drawing strong opposition from both Denmark and Greenland’s Indigenous population. Trump has framed the acquisition as essential for US national security, citing Greenland’s strategic location and mineral wealth. Back in March, Trump declared to Congress that the US would obtain Greenland “one way or the other”, even suggesting the use of force. Denmark has firmly rejected these overtures, emphasizing that Greenland’s future is for Greenlanders to decide. The island’s ability for self-determination is enshrined in the Greenland Self-Government Act. Greenlanders have also expressed overwhelming opposition to becoming part of the United States: a January 2025 poll found that 85% of Greenlanders reject the idea of US annexation. The slogan “Greenland is not for sale” has become their rallying cry, reflecting widespread sentiment against foreign control. Vice President JD Vance’s March visit to Greenland further inflamed tensions, with local leaders and citizens considering it an aggressive intrusion. Protests erupted and some business refused to engage with the US delegation. Trump’s aggressive pursuit of Greenland has not only strained US-Denmark relations but also galvanized Greenlandic nationalism, with the March 2025 election results reflecting a preference among Greenlanders to focus on internal development and a path to independence. This underscores a collective desire among Greenlanders to determine their own future, without external pressures, and avoid another colonial situation. The US merely seeks to substitute one colonial power for another, thereby undermining any genuine prospects for rightful Greenlandic independence. (Deutsche Welle, Independent, Reuters, The Guardian)

Arctic Philharmonic Set to Perform in Europe in Summer 2025

On June 3, High North News reported that the Arctic Philharmonic (Arktisk Filharmoni), the world’s northernmost orchestra established in 2009, will tour Europe this summer. In August 2025, the orchestra is set to perform at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Musikfest Bremen and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany. They will be joine by Norwegian solo violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing and plan to present selections from the Grammy-nominated piece “The Sound of the Arctic” and the Opus Klassik-winning 2023 album “Arctic”. (High North News)

Take 5: While nations are vying for strategic advantages in the Arctic, driven by interests in untapped resources, new shipping routes, and military positioning, the cultural narratives and traditions of Arctic communities and peoples risk being overshadowed. In this context, the Arctic Philarmonic’s tour offers an important reminder that the Arctic is more than a reservoir of resources and a strategic location on the map. For millennia, people have been calling the Arctic their home and the region boasts a rich cultural heritage. The Philharmonic’s tour thus serves as a cultural assertion that the Arctic’s identity should not be solely defined by geopolitical interests but also by its rich traditions, communities, and unique ecosystem. The orchestra’s repertoire, including pieces inspired by Sámi traditions, offers audiences a unique experience in discovering the Arctic’s musical traditions, cultural heritage, and the urgent threats it faces due to climate change. Founded in 2009 and based out of the northern Norwegian towns of Bodø and Tromsø, the Arctic Philharmonic is the world’s northernmost professional orchestra. Its repertoire often includes work inspired by the Sámi tradition of joik, a unique form of song that evokes people, animals, or landscapes, and they often collaborate with composers that integrate Sámi and Kven traditions in contemporary compositions, making them an important actor for cultural preservation. By bringing Arctic music to international stages, the Philharmonic not only showcases artistic excellence but also raises awareness of the region’s challenges and emphasizes the importance of cultural identity and Indigenous voices. (Arktisk Filharmoni, Eldbjørg, High North News, High North News, The Economist)