Event Summary
MSC hosts Digital Conversation on Arctic Security
In cooperation with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, the Munich Security Conference brought together senior decision-makers and experts to discuss the direct and indirect consequences of the coronavirus crisis for Arctic security. At the beginning of the event, Ine Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, gave an introductory statement.
On June 29, 2020, the Munich Security Conference (MSC), together with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, hosted a high-level digital event titled “Pandemic Meltdown? An Update on Arctic Security and COVID-19”. The MSC thereby continued its Digital Conversations on the COVID-19 pandemic and at the same time picked up on previous discussions within its dedicated Arctic Security Series. As part of these activities, the MSC has organized four Arctic Security Roundtables on the side-lines of the Munich Security Conference as well as roundtables in Washington, D.C. (2017), Reykjavík (2017), Stavanger (2018) and Helsinki (2019). Set up as a small, confidential format, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Ine Eriksen Søreide, discussed the geopolitical and economic consequences of COVID-19 on the Arctic region with a distinguished group of representatives from politics, the military, international organizations, academia, and the media.
Increasing risk of a spill-over of rising global geopolitical tensions
The participants stressed the in many areas highly successful cooperation between the actors active in the Arctic, continuing also during the coronavirus crisis. At the same time, they pointed to the increasing risk of a spill-over of the currently rising global geopolitical tensions to the region. Thus, it becomes even more important to keep various channels for dialogue open and to deepen them further. Countries that are not represented in the Arctic Council, but active in the region, should be closely integrated. Beyond the geopolitical and economic consequences of COVID-19, several participants highlighted the risk that the current focus on the immediate effects of the coronavirus crisis may distract attention from the threat resulting from climate change that had massive implications for the Arctic and beyond. In this context, the crisis can serve as a “golden opportunity” to combine the economic recovery with sustainable, “green” policies.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Munich Security Conference has created a new event format: the MSC Digital Conversations. Here, decision-makers and experts regularly discuss challenges and possible solutions to security implications emerging from the COVID-19 crisis as well as other pressing issues. Learn more about the Digital Conversations.
