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 was held for a third time in 2026. The ASC aimed 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 was concentrated around maritime security and threats at sea in the Arctic. It was held on Wednesday, September 16, with both open and closed events on Tuesday, September 15, and Thursday, September 17.
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 (Jernbanetoget. 2nd floor)
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 partners, 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
19:00
Networking
Informal networking at Barcode Street Food. No program or presentations, just show up and grab a drink.
Open to all conference participants.
Thursday, Sep. 17
9:30 - 15:00
ASC Seminar
Seminar with different sessions exploring various elements connected to the Arctic Security Conference. @ Oslo New University College (fully booked).
ARCTIC SECURITY CONFERENCE
Maritime Security and Hybrid Threats at Sea
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
Jonathan Quinn, Director General Continental Defence Policy, Canada
Claude Véron-Réville, Special Envoy for the Arctic, European Union
Michael Sfraga, Senior Advisor, Arctic and National Security Policy, University of Alaska Fairbanks & former U.S. Ambassador at-Large for Arctic Affairs
Commentary: Arne O. Holm, Editor, High North News
11:20 - 12:20
II: An Ice-Free Arctic Ocean in 2050 - So
What?
Chair: Anthony L. Russell, Director, Center for Arctic Policy Studies, US Coast Guard
Karin Strand, Vice President Expedition Development, HX Expeditions
Steve White, Executive Director, Marine Exchange of Alaska
Benjamin Strong, Chair of EPPR Working Group, Arctic Council
Bodil Bluhm, Director, Arctic Ocean 2050-Programme, UiT: Arctic University of Norway
Suzanne Lalonde, Professor in International Law, University of Montreal
Romain Chuffart, Nansen Professor, University of Akureyri and Managing Director, The Arctic Institute
Commentary: Brett Simpson, Climate and Human Rights Journalist, Institute of Current World Affairs Fellow
12:20 - 13:15
Lunch
13:15 - 14:15
III: Hybrid Threats at
Sea - Do the Rules Still Apply ?
Chair: Sigri Stokke Nilsen, Acting Director, Centre for Arctic & Ocean, UiT
Kyrre Haugen, Chief of the Norwegian Fleet
Ørjan Kvelvane, Senior Vice President Safety and Security, Equinor
Katja Bego, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House
Erdem Lamazhapov, Senior Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
Michael Byers, Co-Director, Outer Space Institute
Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv, UiT: Arctic University of Norway
Commentary: Serafima Andreeva, Researcher, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
14:20 - 15.20
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
Hans Peder Kirkegaard, PhD Fellow, lisimatusarfik / University of Greenland
Neil Melvin, Head of Arctic Programme, Swedish Institute of International Affairs
Christian Leuprecht, Professor, Royal Military College of Canada
Zachary Zimmermann, Research Fellow, NAADSN
Patti Bruns, Secretary General of the Arctic Mayors' Forum
Commentary: Linda Solstrand Dahlberg, Head of Brussels Office, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
15:20 - 15.45
Kaffe
15:45 - 17.00
V: Dealing with
Maritime Security
Threats in the Arctic - How?
Chair: Whitney Lackenbauer, Canada Research Chair in the Study of the Canadian North, Trent University & Network Lead, NAADSN
Marte Gerhardsen, State Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Norway
Bob Little, Arctic District Commander, United States Coast Guard
Rich Cantrill, Commander Operations, UK Royal Navy
Caroline Hoefsmit, Lead Officer Arctic, NATO Maritime Command
Sami Nurmi, Deputy Chief of Staff on Strategy, Finnish Defense Forces
Tetiana Ostra, Co-Founder & Head of International Relations, Boryviter Centre of Excellence
Commentary: Gabriella Gricius, Associate Professor of Strategy at the Norwegian Military Academy & Senior Fellow, The Arctic Institute
17:15
Arctic Ocean 2050-reception @ The Hub
Open to all conference participants
