Swedish Foreign Minister: Nordic nations ‘should take the lead in the Arctic’

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström argues that the Nordic countries together can take the global lead for development in the High North and Arctic.

“All the Nordic countries can take active roles in developing the Arctic, and we have to lead the way and prove that it is a great place in which to live. It is great to live in the North, and it is good to live in other places than the major cities,” says Wallström.

The Norbotten region in Sweden has, along with Northern Norway, ingredients for growth and development — resources, energy, technology and stability. Both regions also are hampered by relatively small populations. Maybe some of the challenges on either side of the border can be easier overcome if there is cross-border cooperation, Wallström says.

“Through developing cross-border cooperation we can develop this both in politics, business and environment. We can lead the world in Arctic development,” Wallström argues.

In a seminar organized by the Swedish Norrbotten municipalities, the Norrbotten region and Arctic Frontiers, there was widespread agreement that Northern Sweden and North Norway has a lot to gain from cooperating more across the border. The Swedish Foreign Minister argued how multilateral cooperation today is the only way to solve the challenges that the world faces.

“In this part of the world, which is also the epi-center of climate change, we can demonstrate that it is possible to combine development with sustainability, because we are already doing it,” she said. “Just look at how LKAB, which produces iron pellets in a more climate friendly way than any other company in the whole world. These solutions create the jobs of the future and contributes to solving the climate change challenges, while at the same time contributing to growth in this region.”