Arctic Council in Action: Productive Week of Meetings in Reykjavík

Once again this year, the Arctic Circle Assembly brought together Arctic leaders and stakeholders in Reykjavík, offering the Arctic Council Chairship an opportunity for a busy week of diplomacy in action, as well as collaboration and communication across its networks. Highlights included formal meetings with all Indigenous Permanent Participants and the Chairs and Secretariats of the Council’s six Working Groups. The Chair was also grateful that colleagues from the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples, and the new Russian Chair of the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group were able to join the meetings virtually. The Chairship conducted nearly 30 bilateral meetings with Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Observer States, experts, media representatives, and other key actors—reaffirming the Council’s role as the primary forum for Arctic cooperation and dialogue.

“As representatives of the Arctic states and Senior Arctic Officials, it’s critical that we maintain close dialogue with Permanent Participants, Working Groups and the broader Arctic Council family. The very foundation of the Arctic Council is built on inclusive decision-making, with Permanent Participants playing a central role in shaping the Council’s direction. Likewise, the Working Groups form the backbone of the Council’s work. Without open and consistent communication with them, we wouldn’t be able to fulfil our mandate effectively. In fact, it is our duty to further strengthen the communication and collaboration within the Council," said Høegh, Chair of the Arctic Council for the Kingdom of Denmark.

While official meetings of the Arctic Council on a diplomatic level are paused, Chairship meetings with the Permanent Participants and subsidiary bodies were initiated during the Norwegian Chairship (2023-2025). The Kingdom of Denmark continues to host these meetings and regularly engages with all Arctic States, Permanent Participants, Working Groups and Observers. The aim is to strengthen effective communication, collaboration, and alignment across the Council.

“Consultations with the Permanent Participants and the Working Groups are vital and indispensable. I personally rely on their guidance, and so do my fellow Senior Arctic Officials. As diplomats we don’t have all the answers. It’s those who are on the ground, who live the Arctic reality every day, who provide the insights we need to make informed decisions,” said Kenneth Høegh.

Met to share key priorities and align

In the meeting where all the six Indigenous Peoples’ organizations that have Permanent Participant status in the Arctic Council were present, the Kingdom of Denmark shared key takeaways from the first five months of their Chairship. High on the agenda were updates on initiatives and cross-cutting priorities with Permanent Participant contribution in the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship program.

“A core principle of the Arctic Council, and a priority for us, is to ensure that Permanent Participants remain meaningfully involved in decision-making processes," said Høegh.

During the meeting each Permanent Participant presented their updates and priorities.

“The meeting was constructive and provided a good opportunity to align and plan how we can work together going forward, said Chief Bill Erasmus, International Chair of the Arctic Athabaskan Council.

“Permanent Participants are official members of the Arctic Council, seated at the table alongside the states. We represent our nations and peoples, and our role is integral. Continuous dialogue between the Chair and Permanent Participants is necessary to maintain the integrity of the Council’s work,” he continued.

Chief Gary Harrison, Chairman of the Chickaloon Native Village in Alaska, and representative of the Arctic Athabaskan Council agreed, and added:

“As many of the Senior Arctic Officials are new in their role and lack the historical context of how the Arctic Council has worked in the past, we must meet with them and remind them of that history. We emphasized that Indigenous Peoples are not just stakeholders; we're foundational partners in the Arctic Council. Our participation is not symbolic, and our voices must be included in all decisions.”

Alive and kicking

In the meeting between the Chairship and the Council’s six Working Groups discussions included Working Group work plans, upcoming and future events, as well as common strategies moving forward.

In February 2024, virtual meetings of the Council’s subsidiary bodies resumed, enabling scientific collaboration as well as the Council’s projects and initiatives to further advance.

“In my view, that shift has led to significant improvements. This autumn, I’ve listened in on several of the plenary sessions, and it’s clear that the Working Groups are very much alive and kicking—they’re active and continuing their important work. New projects are being developed and endorsed,” said Høegh after the meeting.

Resilient Arctic Council

What are your key takeaways from the meetings this week?

“The main message I’ve taken from the Permanent Participants, the Working Groups and other members of the broader Arctic Council family is their dedication and strong desire to work as efficiently as possible in delivering projects and reports that will make a difference for the Arctic and its peoples. I fully understand that, and we are doing our best to identify and implement the most effective solutions, given the realities and constraints we face”, said Høegh.

“Despite the challenges, the Council continues to deliver. Just look at the work we’ve seen from AMAP (Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme) this spring—two substantial, scientifically rigorous reports that are genuinely impressive. These are clear examples of what the Arctic Council and its subsidiary bodies continue to produce through the collaboration of all involved parties. We should recognize and remember these successes. They are a testament to the resilience and relevance of the Arctic Council.”