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. Some changes to the program may occur (last updated May 20, 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: SALT, Oslo, Norway (“Den arktiske hovedscenen (the Arctic mainstage)” - 250 seats)
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 sandwich included. Approx. 250 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
14:00 - 16:00
Partner meeting
Closed meeting at SALT Sauna with Norwegian MFA (partners only).
16:00
Reception
Closed reception at Canadian Ambassador’s Residence (by invitation only)
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 SALT (open to all). An in-person workshop at SALT that offers a deep dive into certain topics related to Arctic security and maritime space. From 10:00 to 16:00
Tentative program
Wednesday, Sep. 16
09:00 - 09:30
Kaffe & registration
09:45
Welcome to the
3rd Arctic Security Conference
Iselin Nemeth Winther, Researcher & Andreas Østhagen, Research Director Arctic & Ocean Politics, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
09:55 - 11.10
I: Political Leadership
in Turbulent Waters
- Sailing Where?
Chair: Andreas Østhagen, Research Director Arctic & Ocean Politics, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Alaska (R), video participation
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories, UK (tbc)
Canadian Official (tbc)
Political representatives from various countries
Commentary: Arne O. Holm, High North News
11:15 - 12.10
II: An Ice-Free Arctic Ocean in 2050 - So
What?
Chair: USCG Academy, Center for Arctic Policy Studies
Rear Admiral Bob Little, Arctic District Commander, US Coast Guard (tbc)
Brett Simpson, Climate and Human Rights Journalist, Institute of Current World Affairs Fellow
Benjamin Strong, Chair of EPPR Working Group, Arctic Council
Bodil Bluhm, Director, Arctic Ocean 2050-Programme, UiT: Arctic University of Norway
Commentary: Romain Chuffart, Nansen Professor, University of Akureyri and Managing Director, The Arctic Institute
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
James Kraska, Professor, US Naval War College
Franziska Hagedorn, Head of Division for Arctic Policy at the German Foreign Office (tbc)
14:00 - 14.55
IV: Transatlantic and Nordic Partnerships - What Now?
Chair: Youth Atlantic Treaty Association Norway
Ine Eriksen Søreide, Party Leader and Former Norwegian Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Conservative Party
Karen Ellemann, Secretary General, Nordic Council of Ministers
Rachel Ellehuus, Director-General, Royal United Services Institute
Jeppe Strandsbjerg, Associate Professor Royal Danish Defence College and Ilisimatusarfik / University of Greenland
Thomas Gomart, Director, Institut français des relations internationales (tbc)
Harri Mikkola, Programme Director, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
15:00 - 15.30
Kaffe og boller
15:30 - 16.30
V: Dealing with
Maritime Security
Threats in the Arctic - How?
Chair: NAADSN
Tore O. Sandvik, Minister of Defence, Norway
Major-General Chris McKenna, Commander of the Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command Region (tbc)
Neil Melvin, Head of Arctic Programme, Swedish Institute of International Affairs
Gabriella Gricius, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Konstanz & Senior Fellow, The Arctic Institute
16:30
Informal mingling at SALT
(open to all)
SALT began as an art project in 2014 on Sandhornøy, Northern Norway, centered around the traditional fish-drying rack (fiskehjell). After several years as a nomadic initiative, SALT found a permanent home in Oslo, where it now represents Northern Norwegian (Arctic) culture and architecture in the capital.
