Nordic nations stand ‘in solidarity' with Greenland and Denmark: Norway PM
'You can be fully certain that we stand by you and by Denmark in solidarity,' Store said, addressing Greenland's prime minister at a meeting of Nordic prime ministers in Turku, Finland. 'The Arctic is a regulated area. The Law of the Sea applies, the responsibility of coastal states applies, and we will stand by any community that is feeling pressure on those values,' he said.
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Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Jewish group welcomes local English council backing of Gaza ceasefire and friendship links
LONDON: A Jewish advocacy group has praised an English local council's recognition of 'friendship links' with the Gazan town of Al-Mawasi as 'an important act of solidarity' after councilors passed a motion backing an immediate ceasefire in the region, it was reported on Friday. Last week, Hastings Borough Council voted to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, an end to arms sales to Israel and continued support for its civic ties with Al-Mawasi, an area in southern Gaza that was declared a safe zone by the Israeli military in December 2023, but has since faced repeated attacks. Hastings Jews for Justice welcomed the move. 'We stand with the Palestinians in Gaza who are being slaughtered and starved right now, and we demand immediate action of our politicians,' they said. 'We applaud all the councilors who chose to stand on the right side of history and used their voice and their vote to fight these crimes against humanity. 'And we reject the idea, shared by several Labour councillors during the debate, that standing up for a people facing genocide is an attack on Jewish people in our community or 'divisive',' they added. The motion, which had been attempted several times over the past 21 months, passed following the local elections that changed the council's political makeup. It was carried by a majority of 14 Green and Hastings Independent Group councilors, with three voting against and 11 abstentions, mostly from Labour. Proposing the motion, Green Party councilor Yunis Smith said: 'We must ask ourselves, when the dust settles, will we have done enough? Will we be able to say that we stood up even when it was difficult? 'Or will we, like generations before us, say that we saw the signs and still we did nothing?' Smith added: 'From one coastal town to another, we've shown that solidarity, dignity and human connection shine brighter than cruelty. Al-Mawasi, like Hastings, is defined not just by its land but by the resilience of its people. 'They survive, endure and beckon us to witness their struggle and their strength.' The friendship between the two communities has been fostered by Hastings Friends of Al-Mawasi, which has developed a language exchange and solidarity program in recent years. The group said there has been a 'marked escalation of threatening and abusive behavior' in the town toward those expressing support for Palestine. Hastings has now joined a growing list of UK councils that have formally called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hastings Jews for Justice added: 'This is an important act of solidarity with a people who are being made to suffer in the most horrific ways imaginable and we are determined to show that as British Jews it is not in our names.' Council leader Glen Haffenden of the Greens has reportedly received more correspondence from constituents on the issue than on any other since being elected. Meanwhile, Sussex Police have launched an investigation following reports that a woman was assaulted while wearing a keffiyeh at the De La Warr Pavilion in nearby Bexhill.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Rising tensions at the top of the world
As the world grapples with multiple geopolitical flashpoints — from the fallout of strikes in Iran and stalled Ukraine-Russia negotiations to an unexpected flare-up of fighting between Thailand and Cambodia — it is easy to lose sight of another region where tensions are quietly growing: the Arctic. This week, three events underscore the region's increasing strategic significance and its potential to become a future hot spot of global instability. First, it was reported that GPS signals used by commercial and civilian aircraft, including search-and-rescue helicopters, were being jammed and spoofed near the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. While Svalbard was granted to Norway under a 1920s treaty after the First World War, it remains a geopolitical fault line between Norway and Russia. Incidents of electronic interference in the region have risen dramatically since Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent deterioration in relations between Moscow and the West. Second, the Russian Navy is conducting a major maritime exercise in the Arctic Ocean. Authorities designated a vast area, roughly the size of the UAE, as unsafe for civilian activity. The exercise zone sits in a maritime area that was once disputed with Norway, making the timing and location of the drill especially provocative. Third, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally attended the launch of a new nuclear-powered and armed submarine. In recent years, such new submarines have been sent to Russia's Pacific Fleet. That Russia chose to deliver this submarine to the North Fleet underscores the strategic importance Moscow continues to place on the Arctic region. Though sparsely populated, the Arctic is rich in resources Luke Coffey It is no surprise that the Arctic commands continued interest. Though sparsely populated, it is rich in resources. Estimates suggest that vast untapped reserves of oil, gas, and rare earth minerals are located in the region. It is also home to vital fish stocks, critical for global food security. As the Arctic continues to warm — melting faster each summer — new shipping routes are becoming viable. These emerging lanes could reshape global trade by shortening the maritime journey between Europe and Asia, bypassing chokepoints such as the Suez Canal and Cape of Good Hope. But this new accessibility also increases the risk of competition and conflict. Today, the eight Arctic states are sharply divided along the traditional East-West fault line. Seven of them — Canada, Denmark (via Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the US — are now under the NATO umbrella. Russia, the largest Arctic nation, is isolated by its own actions. Its invasion of Ukraine fractured cooperation in multilateral forums such as the Arctic Council, which once enabled collaboration on shared challenges, including environmental protection, oil spill response, and search and rescue. Since returning to the Oval Office, President Donald Trump has reinserted Arctic security into the global conversation — sometimes in audacious ways, such as his controversial suggestion that the US should annex Greenland, a Danish territory strategically located off the North American coast. His push for European allies to invest more in their own defense has also had Arctic implications. Canada, Norway, and Denmark have all pledged increased spending on Arctic capabilities. Even non-Arctic NATO members such as the UK have developed Arctic strategies and regularly participate in military exercises in the region. For Russia, the Arctic is not just strategic, it is existential. The region holds deep geographic, historical, and cultural resonance for Russians. Despite economic challenges, Moscow has continued to expand its Arctic footprint, reopening Soviet-era military bases and constructing new ones. It is also investing in nuclear-powered icebreakers, coastal defense systems, and Arctic-specific military units. Meanwhile, outside powers are eyeing the region with growing interest, none more so than China. Despite being over 1,200 km from the Arctic Circle, Beijing calls itself a 'near-Arctic state.' In recent years, it has sought deeper involvement through the Arctic Council, where it holds observer status. But with the council largely paralyzed due to Russia's actions, China has found other avenues, partnering with Moscow to invest in Arctic energy and shipping infrastructure, especially along Russia's Northern Sea Route. This growing presence has not gone unnoticed in Washington and likely contributed to renewed US interest in Greenland and the Arctic more broadly. For Russia, the region is not just strategic, it is existential Luke Coffey The future of the Arctic will have global consequences. If other shipping routes, such as those in the Red Sea, remain unstable, the Arctic may become a critical alternative. Yet the more accessible the region becomes, the more militarized and contested it may grow. For now, the Arctic remains an area of relatively low tension. But that status is fragile. It is a mistake to think of the Arctic as disconnected from the world's broader geopolitical currents. Whether it is NATO-Russia tensions, China's global ambitions, or competition over critical minerals, all roads increasingly lead north. And because the region involves so many actors, many of them rivals, it cannot be insulated from wider global trends. The international community must act now to preserve the Arctic as a zone of peace and stability. This means reinforcing the principle that decisions about the region should be led by the Arctic states themselves. In the Arctic, sovereignty equals stability. Respecting each nation's sovereignty, while being prepared to defend your own, is a great way to ensure a lasting peace. The Arctic may not dominate headlines, but it increasingly shapes the strategic calculations of policymakers across the globe. It is time the world paid closer attention to what is happening at the top of the world — before it becomes the next great power flashpoint.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
A Former Security Guard at the US Embassy in Norway Is Accused of Spying for Russia and Iran
A former security guard at the US Embassy in Norway has been indicted by prosecutors there on suspicion of espionage after he allegedly spied for Russia and Iran, according to state broadcaster NRK on Wednesday. The Norwegian man, whose name has not been made public, was arrested last November on suspicion of having damaged national security. He is accused of handing over details about the embassy's diplomats, its floor plans and security routines, among other things, NRK reported. His defense attorney, Inger Zadig, told NRK that her client acknowledges the indictment's facts but denies guilt. The broadcaster reported that America's ties to Israel and the war in Gaza prompted the man to contact Russia and Iran. The defendant faces up to 21 years in prison, NRK reported. The US Embassy, the prosecutor's office and Zadig did not respond to The Associated Press' requests for comment. At the time of his arrest, the man had been studying for a bachelor's degree in security and preparedness at Norway's Arctic University, UiT. It is a second such case at UiT in recent years, according to NRK. One of the people the West swapped with Russia in a major prisoner exchange last year was a UiT guest researcher who claimed to be a Brazilian named José Assis Giammaria, arrested on espionage allegations in 2022. The police revealed him to be Russian, Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin. Norway has a 198-kilometer (123-mile) long border with Russia in the Arctic. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norway has heavily restricted entry for Russian nationals. Last year, the Norwegian government said it was considering a plan to build a fence along all or part of its border with Russia.
