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As the Arctic transforms due to climate change and geopolitical tensions, its strategic significance is rising. Russia’s growing military footprint along its Arctic coastline, U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to purchase Greenland and China’s unclear intentions have all stirred uncertainty. As a consequence, Northern Europe is becoming a theatre for increased military activity with not only NATO but all Nordic countries ramping up their military posturing. While all seem to agree that all of this is crucial for national and transnational security, the consequences for the local communities of the High North are rarely discussed in this context. This panel discussion will convene high-profile experts to discuss how locals perceive of the increased influx of military personnel and funding for defence infrastructure and whether this comes at the expense of attention being diverted from other social, economic, or political issues important to the local populations.
The panel discussion will be hosted at the University of Tromsø - Norway's Arctic University (UiT) in collaboration with the The Centre for Geopolitics, Peace and Security (GPS) & “The Grey Zone” Research Group at UiT.
