On thin ice? The coordination of Norway’s Svalbard policy in light of new conflicts of interest

Global warming, increased temperatures and consequently melting of sea ice is leading to major changes in the Arctic and the High North. The opportunity to extract natural resources, pursue tourism, transport goods along new transport routes and conduct research have caught the attention of both Arctic and non-Arctic actors, including China, the EU and Russia. In addition, tensions in the geopolitical situation in Europe has changed European security policy. The changes also affect the Norwegian High North, including Svalbard, a Norwegian area whose sovereignty is defined by the Svalbard Treaty. Signatory states enjoy rights related to presence and business on the archipelago, but the boundaries of Norway’s treaty enforcement mechanisms are challenged from time to time. This issue will be examined from a political science perspective. Based on a modified foreign policy analysis, this thesis attempts to understand how Norwegian Svalbard policy has developed in the period of 2011-2021, in light of conflicts of interest which involves actors such as Russia and the EU. The research was predominantly carried out pre-invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The issues the conflicts of interest raises are handled across areas of competence among several Norwegian ministries, coordinated by the Interdepartmental Polar Committee, whose seat is at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. This thesis aims to investigate how Norwegian «foreign policy» has responded to various external challenges encountered with external actors. By examining various sources and events, this thesis aims explain the interplay between Norwegian domestic and foreign policy in a unique regional case. These matters may be of great importance for the future management of Svalbard and the Arctic, in a time of climate change and new interests by the treaty partners. Various parts of the Norwegian administration are assumed to be involved in handling the issues seemingly concerning both national and international policy. This thesis argues that Norwegian politics has been challenged by external actors through incidents during the period of 2011-2021. Several major players have during this period reviewed their approach to the High North and Svalbard. Both Russia and the EU have increased their presence and activity in the region, and both actors seem to have interests in and thus incentives to attempts to influence Norwegian Svalbard policy in various ways. Key words: Svalbard, foreign policy analysis, Norway, domestic policy, foreign policy, policy analysis, Norwegian Svalbard policy, The Svalbard Treaty, high north politics, European Union, EU, Russian Federation, Russi