Arctic Security Conference 2026
Maritime Security and Hybrid Threats at Sea
Oslo, Norway, September 16th
Building on the foundations of the first two conferences in 2024 and 2025, the Arctic Security Conference will be held for a third time in 2026. The ASC aims to facilitate in-depth discussions about the underlying drivers and logic shaping Arctic politics, by specifically concentrating on a single issue – security.
This year's conference is concentrated around maritime security and threats at sea in the Arctic. It will be held on Wednesday, September 16, with both open and closed events scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, and Thursday, September 17.
For questions regarding any of the events, don’t hesitate to reach out to the contact person listed. Changes to the program may occur (last updated June 17, 2026).
Organiser:
Partners:
The Arctic Security Conference 2026 will have a particular focus on the maritime domain.
When: Wednesday, September 16 (with closed and open events on the 15th and 17th)
Where: The Hub, Oslo (Jernbarnetoget 1/2)
Purpose: Contribute to enlightened debate about security policy in the High North and the Arctic, with an emphasis on transatlantic relations and the European High North
Format: One day with panels structured around keynotes and conversation. 250 NOK entry. Coffee and light lunch included. Approx. 300 seats in the venue + live/recorded streaming
Support: The conference takes place under the framework of the Norwegian Centre for Geopolitics, with financial support from various projects under the Norwegian Research Council, the partners, and the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. All responsibility lies with the Fridtjof Nansen Institute.
Primary contact points:
Andreas Østhagen, Research Director Arctic & Ocean Politics, Fridtjof Nansen Institute (ao@fni.no)
Iselin Nemeth Winther, Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute (inwinther@fni.no)
Tuesday, Sep. 15
18:00
Networking
Informal networking at Barcode Street Food (open to all conference participants)
Thursday, Sep. 17
10:00 - 16:00
ASC Workshop
Open workshop at Oslo New University College (open to all). An in-person workshop at ONH that offers a deep dive into certain topics related to Arctic security and maritime space.
Four sessions organised by partners:
New voices in Arctic Security
Space and Maritime Security
The North American Arctic
Arctic Ocean 2050
From 10:00 to 16:00
Tentative program (more names to be announced)
Wednesday, Sep. 16
09:30 - 10:00
Kaffe & registration
10:05
Welcome to the
3rd Arctic Security Conference
Iselin Nemeth Winther, Researcher & Andreas Østhagen, Research Director Arctic & Ocean Politics, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
10:15 - 11.15
I: Political Leadership
in Turbulent Waters
- Sailing Where?
Chair: Heather A. Conley, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
John Hannaford, Personal Representative of the Canadian Prime Minister to the European Union
Peter Beyer, Member of the German Bundestag & Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation of the Federal Government
Mike Sfraga, Former US Ambassador to the Arctic
Commentary: Arne O. Holm, High North News
11:20 - 12.15
II: An Ice-Free Arctic Ocean in 2050 - So
What?
Chair: Anthony Russell, Director, Center for Arctic Policy Studies, US Coast Guard
Rear Admiral Bob Little, Arctic District Commander, US Coast Guard (tbc)
Romain Chuffart, Nansen Professor, University of Akureyri and Managing Director, The Arctic Institute
Benjamin Strong, Chair of EPPR Working Group, Arctic Council
Suzanne Lalonde, Professor in International Law, University of Montreal
Bodil Bluhm, Director, Arctic Ocean 2050-Programme, UiT: Arctic University of Norwa
Commentary: Brett Simpson, Climate and Human Rights Journalist, Institute of Current World Affairs Fellow
12:15 - 13.00
Lunch
Sandwiches
13:00 - 13.55
III: Hybrid Threats at
Sea - Do the Rules
Apply Anymore?
Chair: Sigri Stokke Nilsen, Acting Director, Centre for Arctic & Ocean, UiT
Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Chief of the Norwegian Fleet
Ørjan Kvelvane, Senior Vice President Safety and Security, Equinor
Michael Byers, Co-Director, Outer Space Institute
Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv, Professor, UiT: Arctic University of Norway
James Kraska, Professor, US Naval War College
Commentary: Serafima Andreeva, Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
14:00 - 14.55
IV: Transatlantic and Nordic Partnerships - What Now?
Chair: Richard Federhofer, President, Youth Atlantic Treaty Association Norway
Ine Eriksen Søreide, Party Leader and Former Norwegian Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Conservative Party
Rachel Ellehuus, Director-General, Royal United Services
Hans Peder Kirkegaard, PhD Fellow, lisimatusarfik / University of Greenland
Erdem Lamazhapov, Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
Commentary: Andreas Raspotnik, Director, High North Center for Business & Governance, Nord University
15:00 - 15.30
Kaffe og boller
15:30 - 16.30
V: Dealing with
Maritime Security
Threats in the Arctic - How?
Chair: Whitney P. Lackenbauer, Canada Research Chair in the Study of the Canadian North, Trent University & Network Lead, NAADSN
Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Defence, Norway
Sami Nurmi, Deputy Chief of Staff on Strategy, Finnish Defense Forces
Major-General Chris McKenna, Commander of the Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command Region (tbc)
Caroline Hoefsmith, Lead Officer Arctic, NATO Maritime Command
Neil Melvin, Head of Arctic Programme, Swedish Institute of International Affairs
Harri Mikkola, Programme Director, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Commentary: Gabriella Gricius, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Konstanz & Senior Fellow, The Arctic Institute
16:30
Informal mingling at The Hub
