The Arctic Century

The strategic importance of rare earth elements (REE) originates from their key role in the "green transition" and the use of renewable energy technologies. In addition, thorium is extracted from REE ores, which promises to replace uranium in the future as the basis for nuclear fuel production due to greater availability and environmentally friendly features. One ton of thorium can produce as much energy as 200 tons of uranium or 3.5 million tons of coal.

While the Norwegian government is sitting idly by, the Swedes are cutting both food VAT and fuel prices. Experts think it's not a good idea.

Mette Frederiksen's second government suffered a crushing defeat, unexpected by experts, in the March 24 elections, which elected all 179 members of the country's unicameral parliament.

The publication cited below from Greenland's leading newspaper indicates that the greater fragmentation of political forces in the new Danish parliament following the March 24 elections increases the weight of the four MPs from the Faroe Islands and Greenland in the country's unicameral parliament of 179 members.

Stora Enso's former Kitee sawmill could become an indoor drone training range, and countermeasures against GPS jamming could be tested at Joensuu Airport.

On March 26, elections to the Parliament of the Faroe Islands, a country with a population of 56,000 (Greenland's 55,600), will be held. Six political parties will participate, five of which advocate independence from Denmark.

The Progress Party, Norway's largest opposition party, supports exploration up to the ice edge, but is skeptical of opening areas north of this limit.

Iceland will likely hold a referendum this August on resuming EU accession negotiations, which concluded in 2013. The enthusiasm of the country's political elite for this initiative is countered by the undecided population of this country, located on the border between the Americas and Eurasia, with a tiny population of 402,000.