Draft:Arctic Security Forces Roundtable
The Arctic Security Forces Roundtable, also known as the ASFR, is a multilateral semi-annual military forum. It serves as a non-formal platform for Arctic and near-Arctic nations to collaborate on defense and security issues specific to the region. The ASFR is co-chaired by the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and the Norwegian Defense Staff.[1]
Purpose and Mission
[edit]Established in 2010 by the United States and Norway, the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable (ASFR) serves as a flag- and general-officer-level forum. Its primary mission is to promote regional understanding and enhance multilateral security cooperation among Arctic and near-Arctic nations. The ASFR facilitates military-to-military dialogue, focusing on shared security challenges in the High North.[2]
Unlike the Arctic Council, which explicitly excludes military matters from its mandate, the ASFR provides a unique platform for defense officials to address hard security concerns in the region. These include maritime safety, search and rescue operations, joint training exercises, and emerging hybrid threats such as cyberattacks and infrastructure vulnerabilities.[3]
Meetings are held twice annually, alternating between in-person gatherings hosted by Arctic nations and virtual sessions hosted by observer states.[4]
Members and participants
[edit]The ASFR consists of 12 nations: Eight of those are Arctic nations, and the remaining four are observer nations[5]
Arctic Member States
[edit]Observer States
[edit]Since 2014, Russia has been excluded from ASFR activities due to the annexation of Crimea and subsequent military aggression in Ukraine.[3]
Recent activities and meetings
[edit]The ASFR has convened 19 times since its inception, focusing on regional security cooperation, interoperability, and strategic coordination in response to Arctic-specific challenges.
2025 – Kirkenes, Norway
[edit]The spring 2025 ASFR meeting was hosted in Kirkenes, Norway, near the Russian border. Discussions centered on "grey zone" or hybrid threats, defined as a set of unwanted and coordinated actions from non-state actors or foreign states, and includes non-military tactics such as cyberattacks, infrastructure sabotage, and foreign acquisition of critical assets. Participants also examined the implications of shifting U.S. political rhetoric regarding U.S. interests in Arctic territories such as Canada and Greenland. Despite diplomatic tensions, military cooperation among Arctic allies remained stable.[6]
2024 - Kiruna, Sweden / Virtual: The Netherlands
[edit]Sweden hosted the in-person ASFR following its accession to NATO, signaling its commitment to Arctic security cooperation. Key agenda items included multinational joint operations, such as:
- Nordic Response (Norway), involving over 20,000 troops from 13 nations, participating in several days of high intensity training
- Operation Nanook-Nunalivut (Canada), focusing on cold-weather readiness through long-range patrols and under-ice diving
- A United States-led submarine exercise with the Arctic Submarine Laboratory to test Arctic operational capabilities.[7]
2023 – Turku, Finland / Virtual: United Kingdom
[edit]The ASFR brought together senior military leaders from 11 nations in Turku, Finland. The focus was on assessing the strategic interests of Russia and China in the Arctic, improving regional interoperability, and responding to the impact of climate-change, making Arctic waters accessible in the summer[8]
The UK's virtual session emphasized long-term planning in light of geopolitical developments and environmental transformation.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Arctic Security Forces Roundtable held in Finland | High North News". www.highnorthnews.com.
- ^ https://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article/Article/3021154/nato-allies-partners-promote-arctic-security-military-cooperation/
- ^ a b https://www.naadsn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Activity-Report-Arctic-Hard-Security-Taskforce.pdf
- ^ a b "Arctic security takes center stage during military talks". www.eucom.mil.
- ^ "Case Study: Arctic Security Forces Roundtable (ASF". www.apan.org.
- ^ Edvardsen, Text Astri. "Arctic Military Leaders Met Near the Norway-Russia Border: Discussed Hybrid Threats". www.highnorthnews.com.
- ^ "Military leaders hold strategic talks, one hundred miles north of Arctic Circle". www.eucom.mil.
- ^ "International military leaders in Finland for Arctic Security". www.eucom.mil.