Arctic Security Ltd’s Post

Today at SIOI: International Symposium Arctic Connections: “Arctic and Mediterranean: New Assets for Energy Security and Green Transition” High level speakers and a variety of arguments: from energy to security of the nothern regions of Europe and the connections between the Arctic and the Mediterranean.

I am activating a blog feature on my Polar Library website. Here is a summary of the online presentation hosted by IARPC Collaborations on the topic of "Getting the Most Out of the Arctic Observing Summit." https://lnkd.in/ejMYGdEP

A truly interesting dialogue about an area with huge importance for the development in other connected areas - see the recorded seminar from the link below

I'm listening to Director General Vitcheva of the European Commission, and recognizing something that strikes me as profound: The Arctic is where the Pacific meets the Atlantic... Okay, obvious perhaps, but it's a fairly deep insight. Here is where widely disparate interests overlap and find common ground. It's where Japan and Portugal for example (both well represented at this symposium) find common interest with Canada and Europe. It doesn't seem to be hyperbole: the Arctic is the future. #AES #ArcticEncounterSymposium #ArcticFuture #ArcticPeoples

Our knowledge of Mars and the Moon exceeds that of the ocean seafloor. Very informative virtual workshop on Crowded Bathymetry organized today by the Inter-Regional Coordination Committee of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). Crucial discussions on how the maritime community can contribute to global goals such as UN Ocean Decade and Seabed 2030.

The USCG operates two polar icebreakers- the aging Polar Star, which supports Antarctica, and the Healy, which supports scientific research and is the USA's only regular presence in the Arctic Ocean. The Healy recently suffered a fire and is now returning to Seattle, cutting short its annual Arctic deployment. It seems likely that there will be no further U.S. presence in the Arctic this year. This reminds me of the Healy's 2020 fire, which led to a cancellation of the 2020 Arctic Patrol and eventually led to USCG leadership supporting acquisition of the Aiviq. However, little has changed (besides the age of the vessels) since 2020. Bold thinking is needed to sustain U.S. Arctic presence in the short term. Unfortunately, it seems as if the USCG is doubling down on the status quo (the floundering Polar Security Cutter program) instead of taking bold action, enabled by allies, to meet our short to medium term Polar presence needs. More about why this matters in a coming post. Click through to the Substack article for details. Like if you like what you've read. Subscribe to ensure that you never miss an update, and consider sharing with a friend, work colleague, or random LinkedIn connection. This conversation gets more important and interesting by the day- don't miss out. Thanks for reading. Until next time, PGR

When discussing rising global tensions and geopolitical competition, the arctic is often overlooked. As such, it's interesting to consider how access to the polar orbit plays a critical role in intelligence gathering and is poised to shape future space-based capabilities.

🧊❄️Did you miss in our last EOcafe on: "Navigating the challenges of Baltic and Artic shipping with Earth Observation" with Barbara V. Scarnato (DNV)? You can now watch the recording on our YouTube channel! ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/dKTPMFng

Many of my esteemed colleagues have likely heard about #space4antarctic this year! But what exactly is #space4antarctic? 🌟 It is an #initiative aimed at addressing the sustainability challenges facing humankind's future. We are raising awareness of how space activities currently impact Antarctica and, in turn, affect human security and international security. By exploring the connections between space governance and Antarctic activities, we have come to realize that the “space cemetery” located at Point Nemo must be observed under the Liability Convention as well as the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty. We need to create new solutions to enhance the sustainability of ecosystems connected to Antarctica, allowing us to generate knowledge and advance as a species while protecting our blue planet, our home. 📝 It is a #research venue: By promoting academic and cross-disciplinary research, we are opening new avenues for global knowledge. Our goal is to achieve a meaningful impact through cutting-edge studies and to expand into new disciplines. We are also focused on bolstering participation from the Global South by involving researchers from developing regions. 📣 It is a #calltoaction: We aim to raise awareness about the crucial role of Antarctica in international security. This involves engaging everyone, without boundaries, in this important journey to improve solutions and decision-making processes based on evidence and education for future generations. We need everyone's talent, support, and creativity for the next significant leap for humankind: protecting our planet and, potentially, learning how to reach celestial bodies! So, get involved and take action! Every effort counts when the goal concerns all of us! 👉🏻 www.space4antarctic.com 👉🏻 Meet Cosmos, the space penguin: https://lnkd.in/eTMQvcsF Stay tuned to our social media channels and support our upcoming initiatives! #followthepenguin European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) Spacely Chile International Astronautical Federation Institut UNIDIR Secure World Foundation United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Almudena Azcárate Ortega Victoria Samson MISI Universidad de Magallanes Centro de Investigación Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL) Universidad de Santiago de Chile Pieter van Beekhuizen Shelli Brunswick Miriam Joy Hemmons Lars Christiansen

Russia's other major #Antarctic research vessel, the #AkademikTryoshnikov, is in South African waters, arrival in port estimated at 1pm local time. The ship will presumably meet up with the #AkademikFedorov, its in-port sister vessel, for routine logistics. The Tryoshnikov is en route to #Antarctica, where it will "provide coastal stations with fresh food, scientific equipment, technology and materials for research and repair", notes Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (#AARI) here: https://lnkd.in/dNF6gtut. It is only scheduled to return to its St Petersburg home port in mid-July 2024. Notably, while navigating the bottom of the Earth, the Tryoshnikov will also visit the research station of #Belarus, which is seeking decision-making powers to the #AntarcticTreaty. Of course, that application has been blocked at annual meetings in recent years over its facilitation of Russia's war against Ukraine. That situation is likely to repeat itself at the India annual meeting in May (#ATCM46), when Russia and China may again oppose Canada's substantive application for consultative party status. This would restart the annual merry-go-round of thwarted applications on either side of deepening fault lines within the Antarctic Treaty System. So, while the arrival of the Tryoshnikov seems fairly routine, its seasonal voyage via Cape Town tracks the undercurrents of geopolitical tensions bubbling beneath the surface of a deeply threatened wilderness.