At Anchorage conference, ambassadors say they see a more militarized future for the Arctic

Joe Manchin leans over to speak in another man's ear
Joe Manchin and U.S. coordinator for the Arctic region at the State Department James DeHart at the 2022 Arctic Encounters symposium in Anchorage. (Photo by Lex Treinen/Alaska Public Media)

Arctic nations are boosting military spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

That was the message from Arctic nations’ top ambassadors and U.S. senators on Friday at the Arctic Encounters conference in Anchorage.

“What is happening is that instead of dividing us, Putin is unifying us in Europe,” said Tiina Jortikka-Laitinen, Finland’s ambassador.

She said for the first time in the country’s history, the majority of its citizens support membership in NATO, which would guarantee a military response from other members if Finland is attacked.

The Norwegian ambassador speaks into a microphone while Sen. Lisa Murkowski stands behind her.
Norwegian Ambassador Anniken Krutnes told reporters at the Arctic Encounters symposium in Anchorage that she foresees a more militarized Arctic following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February. “We’re only five and a half million people. Fifty-two F-35 – that’s a big thing for us,” she said. “We are buying a marine surveillance aircraft, P-8s, we’re buying new submarines.” (Photo by Lex Treinen/Alaska Public Media)

The Finland ambassador spoke alongside eight other leaders, including U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, at a 40-minute news conference. Both Jortikka-Laitinen and Norway’s ambassador said their countries are buying more than 50 F-35 fighter jets each in response to Russia’s invasion, and they say they foresee a more militarized future in the Arctic.

“We’re only five and a half million people. Fifty-two F-35 — that’s a big thing for us,” said Norwegian Ambassador Anniken Krutnes. “We are buying a marine surveillance aircraft, P-8s, we’re buying new submarines.”

The two-day Arctic Encounters symposium was held at the Dena’ina Center and featured talks from researchers, government officials and Indigenous leaders from Arctic nations, plus countries with interest in the Arctic like Japan and the United Kingdom. They spoke on topics including Arctic health, resource development and the environment. It’s the first time the annual event was held in Anchorage.

Protestors hold large signs shaped like caribou
Demonstrators opposing oil development in the Arctic Refuge outside of the Dena’ina Center where political, industry and some indigenous leaders met for the 2022 Arctic Encounters symposium. Demonstration leaders decried what they saw as overrepresentation of industry and development interests at the symposium. (Photo by Lex Treinen/Alaska Public Media)

Officials from Russia did not attend. They informed organizers a few days before Russia invaded Ukraine in February that they would not come, according to Arctic Encounters director Rachel Kallander.

“We did learn that there was still interest at a later point, but it was not appropriate at that time,” said Kallander. “And we had a cordial exchange to that regard.”

While Russia has been diplomatically cut off from many other forums and scientific projects around the world, Murkowski said that there is still a cooperative Coast Guard agreement to respond to emergencies in the Bering Sea.

“We certainly hope we don’t have environmental issues that we may have to deal with, but I do think that that speaks to some of what has been put in place, historically, where we don’t have a lot of resources in the Arctic, we need to rely on one another,” she said.

The Arctic Encounters symposium wrapped up Friday evening.

Alaska Public Media

Alaska Public Media is one of our partner stations in Anchorage. KTOO collaborates with partners across the state to cover important news and to share stories with our audiences.

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