Germany, Canada and Norway leaders hold Arctic security talks

"We will... not allow Moscow to test NATO on its eastern flank and here in the north. We are sending a message today. We are on alert here in the far north as part of NATO."

"The High North has long been shielded by the concept of "Arctic exceptionalism" -- the notion that the region had its own set of unwritten rules of cooperation which were immune to geopolitical rivalries. But regional dynamics between Russia and the West have deteriorated since the start of the war in Ukraine."

"In a turbulent time with a backdrop of demanding and shifting security policy, partners, friends, and allies must stand together."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney convened in the Norwegian Arctic to discuss the region's security situation. The meeting occurred during NATO's Cold Response exercise, involving approximately 25,000 troops from 14 countries training in extreme winter conditions. The leaders emphasized NATO's commitment to the Arctic, with Merz stating NATO will not allow Moscow to test its eastern flank. The High North's traditional "Arctic exceptionalism"—a concept of regional cooperation insulated from geopolitical rivalries—has eroded due to the Ukraine war and Trump's Greenland acquisition threats. The gathering underscored the necessity for Western partners to maintain unity amid shifting security dynamics.

Read at The Local Germany