The Arctic This Week Take Five: Week of 16 February, 2026

Russian Northern Fleet Launches Live-Fire Arctic Artillery Exercise Near Norwegian Maritime Border

The Barents Observer shared on February 17 that Russia’s Northern Fleet conducted a live-fire naval artillery exercise in the Varanger fjord area, around three to four nautical miles from Norwegian territorial waters. Russia issued warnings to seafarers and pilots to avoid airspace and waters between Pechenga fjord and Grense Jakobselv. The drills took place on February 17 and 18, with additional live-fire warnings issued along parts of the Kola Peninsula coast until February 22. The Norwegian Armed Forces stated that they are monitoring the situation and described the activity as expected and lawful. (The Barents Observer)

Take 1: While it is not unusual that the Russian Northern Fleet organizes trainings and exercises near the Barents Sea, artillery exercises have steadily been coming closer to the Norwegian borders.Next month, in March, 14 NATO countries will send about 25,000 troops to train in Northern Norway and Finland as part of the Norwegian-led Cold Response exercise. While the activities of this exercise are not planned to take place close to the Russian border, the mere fact that it is taking place still reinforces the sense of a widening Western military presence in the region. Since Finland and Sweden joined NATO, the strategic landscape of the European Arctic is changing, and following US President Trump’s assertions surrounding Greenland, the Alliance is actively seeking to expand its northern footprint. For Russia, this further tilts the balance in a region it long considered vital for the protection of its second-strike nuclear capabilities on the Kola Peninsula. Against this backdrop, these live-fire naval drills near Norwegian waters can thus be read as a reminder of Russia’s enduring military weight in the High North. This is further reinforced by the recent announcement that NATO will coordinate its Arctic activities under the ‘Arctic Sentry’ banner, creating a more explicit focus on the Arctic for Alliance, in response to Russian activity. A more structured NATO presence in the region may prompt Russia to undertake such exercises more frequently and demonstratively, creating a vicious cycle of strategic signaling efforts and military posturing. (High North News, Responsible Statecraft, The Barents Observer)

Foreign Tourism to Northern Finland Reached Record High in 2025

Eye on the Arctic reported on February 17 that foreign tourism to Finland and Northern Lapland grew significantly in 2025. Statistics shared by Visit Finland showed that tourists spent around 3.7 billion euros in 2025. Compared to the rest of Europe, foreign tourism in Finland is growing more rapidly, and this growth is particularly driven by long-distance markets. Visitor numbers from Japan, China, India, Taiwan, Australia, and the United States have risen the most, while most European visitors came from the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France. (Eye on the Arctic)

Take 2: The rise in tourism in the High North can partly be explained by the popularity of the ‘coolcation’ trend, with tourists increasingly seeking out colder destinations to spend their holidays instead of traditional, warmer destinations. As the rest of the world is dealing with heatwaves and droughts, many tourists hailing from such destinations are attracted to the idea of escaping these soaring temperatures. These increasing visitor numbers have also brought with them a significant amount of spending: with foreign tourists spending on average 305 million euros per month in Finland, with most of this money being spent on restaurants, transportation, accommodation, shopping, and experiences. This makes a sizeable contribution to local economies and represents an important source of income for local residents. However, tourism also brings with it increased human activity in previously pristine areas. While swimming in crystal clear lakes, sleeping in snowcapped forests, and transiting across large swathes of snowy ‘no-man’s-land’ by dogsled provides breathtaking experiences, it is important to be aware of the environmental repercussions of the growing popularity of nature-based travel experiences. Without proper precautions and regard, such activities can significantly contribute to habitat destruction, pollution, increased emissions, and can even introduce invasive species with severe repercussions for biodiversity. While interest in the region and all that it harbors can only be encouraged, the rising phenomenon of ‘last chance tourism’ is inadvertently contributing to the very threats these environments face. (Euronews, Eye on the Arctic, Oeconomus Economic Research Foundation)

Russia Redirects Arctic Icebreakers to Tackle Heavy Ice in Gulf of Finland

The Barents Observer reported on February 19 that Russia redirected two icebreakers, including the nuclear-powered Sibir, from Arctic waters to the Baltic Sea due to heavy ice conditions in the Gulf of Finland. Following operations along the Northern Sea Route, Gulf of Ob and Kara Sea, Sibir sailed south along the Norwegian coast and arrived in St. Petersburg on February 18, from where it began assisting ice-trapped vessels, including tankers from Primorsk. The diesel-powered Murmansk was also reassigned to the Baltic Sea after supporting shipping near the Taymyr Peninsula. (The Barents Observer)

Take 3: Climate change in the Arctic is typically associated with the idea of longer and warmer summers and melting sea ice. However, climate change also causes more unpredictable weather and ice conditions.The two icebreakers were sent south to assist vessels trapped in the Gulf of Finland and Baltic waters, an area experiencing some of its heaviest ice coverage in years. This has complicated shipping efforts, particularly oil exports, through key ports like Primorsk. While long-term climate data indeed shows a declining trend in sea ice extent and thickness, ice melt is not a linear event and inter-annual variability remains high. This apparent paradox of long-term warming and extreme ice events reflects the complexity of climate dynamics and their effects on weather variability. For instance, unusual cold spells over Fennoscandia (the northwest region of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia) have been linked to persistent regional weather patterns contrasting broader warming trends. At the same time, reduced Arctic sea ice influences atmospheric circulation, potentially altering jet stream behavior and increasing the likelihood of trapped cold air over northern Europe. Arctic warming therefore does not eliminate severe winter weather. The result is that ice conditions in the High North have become less predictable; in 2025, for example, the Northern Sea Route was naturally ice-free for only two weeks. As such, climate change does not simply mean less ice, but rather more complex, dynamic and uncertain ice regimes that complicate both economic ambitions and strategic planning. (High North News, The Barents Observer, Weather Journal)

Research Highlights Rising Risk of Invasive Plant Species in the Arctic

High North News shared on February 19 that researchers from the NTNU University Museum and the University of Liverpool have identified more than 2,500 alien plant species that could potentially establish themselves in the Arctic. Using data from over 51 million records and examining 14,000 known alien species, the team conducted a “horizon scan” to map areas where these species could survive the climate. Northern Norway, Alaska, Southwest Greenland, Northern Iceland, and Northwest Russia were identified as hot-spot areas. The study also found that 86 foreign species could find suitable conditions in Svalbard. (High North News)

Take 4: Suitable climate conditions do not equal imminent invasion. Species must first arrive and find suitable disturbed ground where they can take hold. This is where human activity plays a central role. Seeds can travel unnoticed in the soles of shoes, clothing, backpacks, and scientific equipment. On Svalbard, research found that visitors often carry viable seeds, some of which are capable of sprouting in Arctic conditions. Expedition cruises further increase this risk. Ships visit multiple landing sites, potentially spreading organisms between locations. Shipping in general represents a major pathway for contamination, particularly for marine species in ballast water or attached to ship hulls. As the Arctic develops further, expanding infrastructure, research stations, and roads create disturbed soil where fast-growing invasive species can overpower slow-growing native plants. The ecological repercussions of invasive species could be disproportionate in the Arctic. Its ecosystems are relatively species-poor and finely balanced. New species could alter competition for light and nutrients, affect soil conditions, and disrupt relationships between plants, pollinators, herbivores, and microorganisms. In isolated areas like the Arctic, even small shifts can have cascading effects as there are limited ranges of species and few ecological ‘back-ups’. This increases the importance of strengthening biosecurity, including measures like cleaning requirements for visitors, stricter cargo controls, ballast water treatment and hull management. This study provides authorities and relevant agencies with a practical watchlist and mapping of where alien species could theoretically survive under current and future Arctic climate conditions. (Biological Invasions Journal, Forskning.no, High North News, Phys.org)

Canadian Federal Government to Fund First Inuit-Led University in Nunavut

Eye on the Arctic revealed on February 19 that Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty announced that Canada’s federal government will provide CA$50 million to support the establishment of the country’s first Inuit-led university, to be built in Arviat, Nunavut by 2030. The funding, delivered through Budget 2025’s Build Communities Strong Fund, will support the development of Inuit Nunangat University to strengthen Inuit-led education and community wellbeing. (Eye on the Arctic)

Take 5: Federal funding support for the first Inuit-led university in Canada marks an important step towards advancing Inuit education sovereignty. Nevertheless, it also highlights how deep and longstanding Canada’s educational inequities for Inuit and other Indigenous peoples have been. In fact, Canada is the sole Arctic state without a university in its Arctic territory. Inuit peoples have historically had far lower rates of post-secondary education in Canada: around 42% of non-Indigenous Canadians hold a college or university credential, which is in stark contrast to the 14% of Inuit. This reflects systemic barriers to access, retention, and culturally relevant education. Today, when Inuit students want to attend post-secondary education, they must relocate to southern regions, far away from their communities and culture. Ensuing financial pressures, cultural dislocation, and lack of support further exacerbate these challenges. Much of this gap derives from Canada’s colonial legacy of residential schools, underfunded on-reserve education systems, and a historic lack of distinction-based policies tailored to Indigenous communities. The Inuit Nunangat University project is designed to address these structural obstacles by rooting higher education in Inuit culture, language, and governance – elements that Inuit leaders and educators deem essential not just for academic success but for community wellbeing and self-determination. However, funding alone will not fully close these gaps. There is a need for deeper structural reform and sustained commitments – both financial and otherwise – to the establishment and maintenance of comprehensive Indigenous services and support, including culturally grounded education systems and partnerships guided by Inuit priorities. (Eye on the Arctic, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Montreal Gazette)