Does the strategy include any new measures for the Ofoten Line specifically?
“The National Transport Plan includes plans for the building of three new passing loops. This has been signalled to Bane NOR and they plan accordingly. In addition, the axle load limit is expanded to 32,5 tonnes so that the line can withstand more weight and dimensions. This is important to the Armed Forces,” he explained.
“In addition, it is important for us to deepen and develop the cooperation with our Nordic colleagues even more. We have a cooperation between agencies across country borders. There is cooperation between us ministers, and we have instituted the civil services in the respective countries to explore how we can create a joint strategy to develop border-crossing corridors.”
Varteressian also points out the significance of the infrastructure cooperation between Sweden and Finland in connection with the investment in defense, security, and preparedness.
“This strategy comes on top of other important guiding political documents, such as the National Security Strategy and the National Transport Plan, in which both ambitions and needs are to be seen in the context of both the military and the civilian.”
A serious strategy
“The strategy does not contain anything shocking, but that is not the purpose either,” comments Andreas Østhagen, Research Director Arctic and Ocean Politics at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. He is also a researcher at the High North Center at Nord University. (Photo: FNI).
Andreas Østhagen, the Research Director of Arctic and Ocean Politics at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, notes the grave backdrop of the Arctic Strategy.
“This impacts the entire strategy and is clear in many of the prioritized areas: defense and security policy is the driver. It is an interesting turn, which is obviously natural, but it is still a shift compared to earlier documents, such as the previous Arctic white paper,” says Østhagen to HNN.
“In my opinion, this is an Arctic Strategy with a much more serious tone than what we have seen before. It contains a lesser focus on traditional topics such as international cooperation and the Arctic Council. Now, the focus is more on the regional. Among other things, the County Council is highlighted as a central player,” he continues, referring to the increased focus on collaboration with Sweden and Finland.
“There are also some specific measures. A lot revolves around stimulating everything from business growth to stopping depopulation and managing the population situation in Troms and Finnmark. Whether this is enough, and whether a lot has already been done or would be carried out anyway, is hard to say.”