Exclusive content: Interviews, Presentations and latest insights

In this interview, Aija Kalnaja, Deputy Executive Director for Capabilities at FRONTEX, reflects on what it truly means to prepare for complex, high-risk environments such as the Arctic. With a career spanning national policing, EU law enforcement training and operational capability management, she brings a cross-sector perspective to questions of interoperability, leadership and readiness.

Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign in the maritime Arctic reflects a calculated blend of military, economic, legal, technological, and informational tools aimed at securing long-term strategic advantage without triggering open conflict. This in-depth analysis is authored by Anita Parlow, Esq., MSt, a legal scholar and author specialising in Arctic governance, Indigenous rights, and climate-related security issues.

2040 is expected to be an inflexion point for Arctic capabilities. A combination of different technologies maturing and being adopted has the potential to dramatically change warfighters' abilities to overcome the geographical and climate challenges of the high north.

Download the article to learn about:

- The priorities of NATO nations when developing Arctic-related capabilities

- The current technological landscape

- Trends and challenges up to 2040

Ahead of Arctic Security 2026 (30 June–1 July 2026), the 2025 Sample Attendee Snapshot offers a clear preview of the calibre of organisations and senior leaders you can expect to meet next year. It showcases the high-level representation confirmed for the 2025 edition, providing an early indication of the breadth of military, governmental, and industry stakeholders who consistently engage with this summit.

The 2025 attendee profile features senior strategic leaders from Arctic states, allied nations, and NATO, brought together for one of the most timely and important discussions on safeguarding the region. This level of participation reflects the depth of collaboration and cross-domain expertise that will continue to define Arctic Security 2026.

The presentation "Coordinating Coast Guard Operations in Arctic Waters" by Georg Kr. Lárusson, Director General of the Icelandic Coast Guard, focuses on the challenges and strategies for maritime safety in the Arctic region. The presentation highlights Iceland's unique security and operational challenges in Arctic waters and the necessity for international collaboration to ensure maritime safety.

The presentation from MajGen Øyvind Kvalvik, Assistant Director, Director Strategic Management and Development at the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency. explores Norway’s Long Term Plan - from an Arctic Perspective.

Merritt R. Turetsky, Director of Arctic Security at the University of Colorado, delivered an engaging session in 2025 on how permafrost change is shaping Arctic security and military training operations. Her presentation provides a clear, accessible overview of several critical topics, including:

• The Arctic Security System at the University of Colorado Boulder
• Permafrost distribution across the region The U.S. Army CRREL
• Permafrost Tunnel Thaw, subsidence, and flooding impacts
• Landscape transformation modeling and its implications for all‑season training in Alaska
  

Designed to tackle some of the U.S. warfighter’s most challenging problems, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) operates a number of research centres, including a Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL). CRREL’s vision is to develop innovative solutions for science and engineering challenges in extreme environments. To talk about how the laboratory fosters this innovation, we had the privilege of interviewing the Associate Technical Director, Justin Putnam.

NATO is currently going through a period of renewed interest in the Arctic. With the international order currently in flux due to the invasion of Ukraine combined with increased Arctic activity by Russia and increasing interest by strategic competitors such as China, NATO is seeking greater access to what is one of the most challenging environments on earth. The following infographic gives insight into NATO bases in the high north, their location and function.

This 2024 Attendee list highlights the leading military and industry leaders from across the arctic community who attended the Arctic Security Conference in 2024, many of whom are expected to return this year. Join us in 2025 where the event will bring together all key security stakeholders including the most senior strategic leaders from the Arctic states, allied nations, and NATO under one roof, for the timeliest discussion on maintaining the safety and security of the region.

View the 2024 attendee list to see who you could meet this April at Arctic Security 2025 (Copenhagen, Denmark on 29-30 April 2025) >>

As the Arctic becomes more accessible due to climate change, creating vital sea lanes and resource opportunities, geopolitical competition is expected to increase. In this piece Arctic expert Anita Parlow discuses the use of hybrid warfare in the High North, and poses the questions the question on how it should be countered.

Arctic Operations pose huge challenges due to extreme cold, solar and magnetic phenomena, and lack of infrastructure. The Arctic remains essential to NATO's Deterrence and Defence Posture, more so with Finland and Sweden’s accession to the alliance. This article looks at how industry and end users are working to overcome Arctic conditions and their effect on UAS, C4ISR and Artillery operations.

Commander Brian May, serving as the Associate Centre Director at the Atlantic Research Centre for Defense Research and Development Canada, shares the challenges inherent in Arctic security and the innovative solutions being taken to address and secure the region.

Rear Admiral Georg Lárusson, Director, General Icelandic Coastguard speaks on 'Coast Guard Cooperation in the Arctic, Developments and Future Challenges'

Learn more by downloading the presentation below!