What is the Arctic Council?

Several intergovernmental frameworks have been established in the Arctic region to promote cooperation. The most notable is the Arctic Council, which brings together the eight states with territory above the Arctic Circle (Russia, United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark (Greenland and the Faroe Islands) and Iceland). The UK has observer status at the Council.

It addresses issues relevant to the Arctic region, with a specific focus on the environment, sustainable development and scientific cooperation. It specifically excludes military cooperation from its remit.

The Council has been the main forum for cooperation in the region since 1996. However, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Council has faced its challenges. Denmark assumed the chairmanship of the Council on 12 May 2025, outlining five priorities for the next two years:

• Indigenous peoples and communities in the Arctic
• Sustainable economic development and energy transition solutions
• Oceans
• Climate change
• Biodiversity