The NATO Defense College, with the support of the University of Iceland, convened an Academic Roundtable in Reykjavik, Iceland, from 29 to 30 January 2009 addressing “Security Prospects in the High North”.
Leading scholars and officials from NATO as well as Partner countries participated in the event that was complimentary to the 29 January 2009 NATO Seminar on the same subject also co-organized by the College with the Government of Iceland.
Following the welcome remarks of Dr. Olafur Th. Hardarson, Dean of the University of Iceland School of Social Sciences, and Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter Loeser, NDC Commandant, the Roundtable’s keynote address was delivered by H.E. Ambassador Anton Vasiliev, Senior Arctic Official of the Russian Federation. Deliberations continued with consideration of a range of national geopolitical interests in the region including British, German, and Swedish perspectives. Analysis of the viability of the High North as a transit route and region for resource extraction was then led by Dr. Alyson Bailes, Visiting Professor at the University of Iceland. The Roundtable further assessed potential governance models to manage the various interests at stake in the region including views on the future roles of NATO, the European Union and Arctic Council.
The concluding remarks of Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp, Director of the NDC Research Division, stressed the importance of ongoing research on the High North, an issue of vital importance to the Allies. In this context, Dr. Kamp noted NDC’s forthcoming publication of a volume of the papers presented at the Roundtable.
Prepared by Dr. Smith-Windsor (CAN)
NATO Defense College