The Arctic policy of Norway consists of Norway's foreign relations with other Arctic countries, and Norway's government policies on issues occurring within the geographic boundaries of "the Arctic" or related to the Arctic or its people. Since Norway is itself an Arctic nation, the Arctic Policy of Norway includes its domestic policies as regards the Norwegian Arctic region.
The Arctic policy shapes Norway's relations with other Arctic countries, as well as its policies on its own Arctic areas. Northern Norway accounts for 35% of Norway's mainland territory, and 9% of its population lives within the Arctic Circle. Economic stability, development, and facilitation of opportunities in these areas are therefore regarded as issues of national interest.
In Norway, development in the High North, including the Arctic, has been the government's highest foreign policy priority since 2005. The Norwegian Government's High North strategy was released December 1, 2006.
In academic literature, Norway's expansive foreign policy and role in the Arctic has been described as a "small power acting big". The Norwegian Arctic policy concerns topics of environmental degradation, resource extraction, military presence, and fisheries, among others. The aims of the Arctic policies are to further develop the High North region to further safeguard Norwegian interests in the Arctic. Norway was a founding member of the Nordic Council when it was formed in 1952 alongside Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Norway held both the chairmanship for the Arctic Council, from 2023 to 2025, and the presidency of the Nordic Council. Today, Norway stands as one of the most progressive and engaged Arctic nations regarding academic activities, conservation and leadership in the Arctic.
Background In the early 1970s urbanization in Norway led to a relative decrease in population in the northernmost areas of mainland Norway. Since then, the Norwegian government has instantiated extensive policies to incentivize both population growth and economic development in the region.
In the 1970s when Norwegian politicians were making foundational and strategic work on its Arctic Policy the term "Nordområdene" (Northern areas) was coined. In English, the term translates to the "Northern Areas", and goes beyond the areas within the Arctic Circle. In the academic literature on Arctic Policy the term "High North Policy" is often used as an equivalent conceptualization. Nordområdene is the official term of the Norwegian government on Arctic policy, and policy relating the surrounding areas.
The geographic definition of nordområdene is from the South of Helgeland in the South, and the Greenlandic Sea in the West, and the Pestjora sea in the east. The term is especially associated with safeguarding Norwegian interests through a series of national and international efforts in the northern areas. This Norwegian conceptualization of policies on "Nordområdene" has inspired other Arctic Nations to make their own policies, also including areas close to the arctic circle. Furthermore, the widespread adoption and use of the term display Norway's influence in the region as a progressive and engaged Arctic nation.
During the Cold-War Norway held a high geopolitical status due to US and NATO relations, as well as bilateral relations and border-sharing with Russia. In the aftermath of the Cold- War Norway struggled with what scholars have named "diplomatic invisibility", which was a central problem for the public diplomacy of Norway in the early 2000s. To solve the issue of diplomatic invisibility the foreign ministry employed the (Foreign Policy Centre) to develop a new public diplomacy strategy released in June 2003.
The new strategy identified four main areas that Norway was to focus its strategic efforts towards, based on shares Norwegian values and norms. It was then decided that Norway were to present themselves as a; humanitarian superpower, a society living with nature, high-level of equality and Norway as an internationalist society. These policy developments further support the notion that Norway is intentionally framing itself as a "small power acting big".
Norway, through its domestic and Arctic policy efforts, has also established itself as a provider of indigenous rights in the region. Norway played a central role in the launch of the Global Indigenous Peoples movement when it granted the Sami people its own parliament "Sametinget". Sametinget now serves as an advisory political tool to strengthen the indigenous people's role in discussions of resource development and sovereignty of ancestral land. Norway's institutionalization of cooperation and inclusion of indigenous peoples on policy issues has since then become a pillar of its Arctic Policy.
Norway's geopolitical role Norway has a unique geopolitical role in the Arctic that has been strengthened by the past decades of extensive policies. The Norwegian government states that its "geopolitical location is a key part of its strategic significance beyond demographic" in regional geopolitics. Growing international interests for the Arctic region also further strengthens Norway's geopolitical role and power. In Norway's geopolitical work they aim to continue to emphasize the importance of the rule of law, as well as strong multilateral structures. Furthermore, Norway's NATO membership is a cornerstone of the country's security and defense policy.
One of the pillars of the Norwegian Arctic policy lies in strengthening its geopolitical role and power. Norway was one of the founding members of NATO in 1949, and it has one of the longest coastlines in the world, as well as a shared border with Russia. This makes Norway key military importance to NATO, as it provides a unique geopolitical position in the Arctic.
Norway currently also holds the presidency of the Nordic Council, and the chairmanship in the Arctic Council and it is working actively towards defense-cooperation in the Arctic, as well as aiding all other Nordic countries in becoming members of NATO.
Due to Norway's geography and prosperous coastline, it has an extensive merchant fleet, a large fishing industry and valuable oil and gas resources. Norway is also a shipping country. These conditions are largely why Norway also has a large navy protection for its important industries.
Arctic policies of Norway Norway has a series of policies and instruments it utilizes to manage its northern territories and gain power and influence in the Arctic region. The Arctic policies of Norway go under the term "Nordområdene" and is identified as the government's most important strategic investment area. The Arctic policies range from leadership roles in regional and transnational councils to climate change research and welfare for the population in the northernmost areas.
People, Opportunities and Norwegian interests in the North: Meld. St.9 (2020–2021) Meld. St. 9 (2020–2021) titled "Mennesker, muligheter og norske interesser i nord" (People, Opportunities and Norwegian interest in the North) is the latest official full-text Arctic policy of Norway. It was approved by the Norwegian Government in council with the Crown on 27 November 2020 under the government of Erna Solberg. The 193-page policy document outlines all the main components of Norway's official efforts in the north.
This version of the official public policy in the North builds on a long-standing tradition of safeguarding Norwegian interests in the North through broad international cooperation. The government's overall goals can be summed up into 6 different categories:
Peace, stability and predictability International cooperation and the rule of law Holistic and ecosystem-based management Increased job and value creation Closer cooperation between business and knowledge institutions Living attractiveness and welfare
The official policy focuses very broadly on a series of social and geopolitical issues central to the region, and places people at the core of all policy developments. One of the main aims of the policy is to stimulate and incentivise businesses and people to establish themselves in the North. To make this possible there is a need for a series of cohesive policies to make the region attractive. This is both in relation to education, commerce, and infrastructure, as well as stimulating more cultural events and developments.
As international attention is looking towards the Arctic as climate change progresses, the government wishes to be a leader and maintain the northern areas as their most strategic area of responsibility. Central in the policy is also increased effort into ocean research and knowledge building. Norway possesses a position of authority on knowledge of ocean recourses and research and wishes to continue to strengthen its position in more international research cooperation. Furthermore, as the Arctic ice sheet continues to melt due to climate change, the Norwegian Government wishes to build capacity to handle future issues relating to the environment and national security.
Norwegian leadership in the Arctic Council 2023-2025 The Norwegian government released in late March 2023 its policies aimed at strengthening its leadership in the Arctic Council. The government views the Arctic Council as the most important transnational forum for Arctic questions. The aim of the policy is to promote stability and constructive cooperating in the Arctic, as well as address sustainable development, and climate change, and bettering the living standards within the Arctic region.
The official policy document highlights four major issues: Ocean, Climate and environment, sustainable economic development, and people in the north. Norway also highlights in its policy document that issues within these categories are inherently interrelated and that mitigation measures should be holistic.
Arktis 2030 Arktis 2030 (Arctic 2030) is a supplementary policy aimed at realizing the overall foreign policy goals on the Arctic though funding of projects. Arktis 2030, released in February 2023, will support further development of projects initiated by the government on the "Nordområder". The policy is also directed towards advancing Norwegian interests in Antarctica, as well as promoting Norwegian sovereignty and interests in intentional cooperation in both polar regions.
The responsibility of realizing the Arktis 2030 is divided between the Norwegian foreign ministry and the two northernmost county municipalities, Troms and Finnmark. Furthermore, considering changing geopolitical and security conditions in the Arctic, the policy means will contribute to supporting professional and international structures of cooperation in the high north.
New Building Blocks in the North On March 12, 2009 Norway released the report "New Building Blocks in the North" which identifies seven priority areas: 1) climate and the environment; 2) monitoring-emergency response-maritime safety in northern waters; 3) sustainable development of offshore petroleum and renewable marine resources; 4) onshore business development; 5) infrastructure; 6) sovereignty and cross-border cooperation; and 7) the culture and livelihoods of indigenous peoples.New Building Blocks in the North - Norway's Next Step High North Strategy
Nuclear safety cooperation in the high north Nuclear safety cooperation in the high north (Atomsikkerhetssamarbeidet i nordområdene), has since the 1990s been a comprehensive nuclear safety cooperation with Russia, Ukraine, and other countries in both central Asia as well as in Eastern Europe. The main aim of the cooperation is to protect both the environment, as well as people in the event of a nuclear threat. This cooperation is intended to create a consistent dialogue between partners, as well as to initiate political dialogue.