Over the Circle

This year’s Barents Spektakel event in Kirkenes was dedicated to transforming the city into the ‘world’s most northern Chinatown’, complete with cultural events, art, music and literature readings, as well as public seminars to discuss the expanding role of China in the Arctic. Slightly more than two years have passed since diplomatic relations between China… Continue reading Scenes from a Northern Crossroad: China and Russia in the Arctic →

It has been a longstanding joke in Oslo diplomatic circles that Norway and China have always been close neighbours since they are separated by only one country, with the minor detail being that the country in question is the Russian Federation. Yet, the closeness between China and Norway was sorely tested during 2010-16 when bilateral… Continue reading No Borderline: A Norway-Russia Frontier Festival Connects with China →

As climate change continues to affect the Arctic, including in Greenland, there is growing interest from many countries about the possibility of expanded resource extraction on the island. China has become a major player in potential mining projects, and recent further steps were taken by Chinese firms to engage in mining joint ventures. The planned… Continue reading New Article: ‘China Steps up Its Mining Interests in Greenland’ →

This week, the final report from a working group [In Finnish] assembled to gauge the viability of a railway system linking the far northern cities of Rovaneimi (Finland) and Kirkenes (Norway) suggested that, at present, such a link would not be financially workable. Although the report [pdf], issued by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, was… Continue reading Unexpected Detour? An Arctic Railway Project Encounters Financial Obstacles →

For much of North America, it was unnecessary to travel to the country’s polar region to experience Arctic weather, as snowstorms and extreme cold affected much of both Canada and the United States this week. In fact, Canada’s capital, Ottawa received the dubious distinction of being the world’s coldest capital city, beating out the usual suspects Moscow… Continue reading ‘Follow That Pole!’ The World’s Magnetic North Continues to Wander →