Lukas Wahden
@wahden.bsky.social
PhD in IR at SciencesPo Paris & Associate Fellow with the Russia Program at George Washington University. Author of the Arctic security newsletter 66° North on Substack. Writing about Russia, China, the polar regions, sometimes the seas and space.
Kremlin speaker Peskov in response to Trump calling Russia a "paper tiger": No, we are a "bear" on the international stage. Похоже, задел за живое...
www.rbc.ru/politics/24/...
www.rbc.ru/politics/24/...
Песков в ответ на «бумажного тигра» Трампа назвал Россию медведем
Накануне Трамп заявил, что экономика России находится в «ужасном состоянии», назвав страну «бумажным тигром». Песков в ответ указал, что Россия скорее не тигр, а медведь и «бумажных медведей» не бывае...
www.rbc.ru
September 24, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Kremlin speaker Peskov in response to Trump calling Russia a "paper tiger": No, we are a "bear" on the international stage. Похоже, задел за живое...
www.rbc.ru/politics/24/...
www.rbc.ru/politics/24/...
Great icebreaker explainer in the @financialtimes.com featuring Peter Rybski
www.ft.com/content/e1cd...
www.ft.com/content/e1cd...
Icebreaker diplomacy
The US faces serious questions about the relationship between defence procurement, national security and re-industrialisation
www.ft.com
September 15, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Great icebreaker explainer in the @financialtimes.com featuring Peter Rybski
www.ft.com/content/e1cd...
www.ft.com/content/e1cd...
Reposted by Lukas Wahden
Building on this theme, despite strenuous efforts by Right-leaning commentators to claim that the AfD is the party of German youth, in North Rhine Westphalia among under-25s it sits well behind the CDU, SPD, Hard Left Linke and the Greens
Linke in particular are building momentum among young voters
Linke in particular are building momentum among young voters
September 14, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Building on this theme, despite strenuous efforts by Right-leaning commentators to claim that the AfD is the party of German youth, in North Rhine Westphalia among under-25s it sits well behind the CDU, SPD, Hard Left Linke and the Greens
Linke in particular are building momentum among young voters
Linke in particular are building momentum among young voters
Reminder of why it's a bad idea to stick to monodimensional definitions of security. Even if military buildups increase security perceptions in the short term, they tend to undermine security in both the traditional and non-traditional sense in the long term
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Rising Nato military spending to cause huge spike in emissions, report warns
Pollution could be on par with annual emissions generated by Brazil as experts warn of climate effects of war
www.theguardian.com
September 15, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Reminder of why it's a bad idea to stick to monodimensional definitions of security. Even if military buildups increase security perceptions in the short term, they tend to undermine security in both the traditional and non-traditional sense in the long term
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Putin opened a large new building complex housing a National Space Centre in Moscow on Saturday. www.interfax.ru/moscow/1047127
Путин открыл комплекс зданий Национального космического центра
Президент РФ Владимир Путин в субботу в рамках празднования Дня города Москвы открыл комплекс зданий Национального космического центра (НКЦ).В церемонии принимали участие мэр Москвы Сергей Собянин, пе...
www.interfax.ru
September 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Putin opened a large new building complex housing a National Space Centre in Moscow on Saturday. www.interfax.ru/moscow/1047127
I've written an angry but fun response to that National Interest article about how Russia is "building a new Arctic military base on American land." 66north.substack.com/p/no-russia-...
No, Russia is not building a new Arctic military base on American land
The 'National Interest' resuscitates a fringe 1980s conspiracy theory on Wrangel Island
66north.substack.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I've written an angry but fun response to that National Interest article about how Russia is "building a new Arctic military base on American land." 66north.substack.com/p/no-russia-...
Gazprom's Aleksei Miller: Power of Siberia 2 pipeline is "basically already being built", supplies to come from the gigantic Yuzhno-Tambeyskoye gas field on the Yamal peninsula in the Russian Arctic. Construction is allegedly underway in the Jewish Autonomous Region. www.interfax.ru/business/104...
Миллер заявил, что проект "Сила Сибири 2" фактически уже реализуется
Проект поставок газа в Китай "Сила Сибири 2" фактически уже реализуется, подтвердил председатель правления "Газпрома" Алексей Миллер.Одним из первых участков будущего газотранспортного коридора является 410-километровый отрезок от компрессорной станции "Аганская" в ХМАО до КС "Вертикос" в Томской области.
www.interfax.ru
September 10, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Gazprom's Aleksei Miller: Power of Siberia 2 pipeline is "basically already being built", supplies to come from the gigantic Yuzhno-Tambeyskoye gas field on the Yamal peninsula in the Russian Arctic. Construction is allegedly underway in the Jewish Autonomous Region. www.interfax.ru/business/104...
One step forth, two steps back. EU apparently just can't rid itself of Russian LNG. The time to cut Russian suppliers off was three years ago. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Europe Mulls Weaker LNG Terminal Rule for Russian Gas Phaseout
The European Union is considering backtracking on a proposed ban on providing terminal services to Russian liquefied natural gas suppliers, potentially weakening a plan to phase out the gas purchases ...
www.bloomberg.com
September 10, 2025 at 9:29 AM
One step forth, two steps back. EU apparently just can't rid itself of Russian LNG. The time to cut Russian suppliers off was three years ago. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@opsarctique.bsky.social have conducted a large survey among inhabitants of the Canadian Arctic. Most notably, a plurality of northern Canadians consider the U.S. the most serious threat (37%) to their region, with Russia arriving second (35%) and China a distant third www.opsaquebec.ca/publications
Publications — OPSA
Use this space to add a brief description of your project.
www.opsaquebec.ca
September 10, 2025 at 9:24 AM
@opsarctique.bsky.social have conducted a large survey among inhabitants of the Canadian Arctic. Most notably, a plurality of northern Canadians consider the U.S. the most serious threat (37%) to their region, with Russia arriving second (35%) and China a distant third www.opsaquebec.ca/publications
Norway's Labour party sees off far right challengers in a national election. For the rest of the European Arctic, this provides predictable conditions in Oslo, perhaps the most pivotal capital of the region www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Norway’s Labour party wins election after seeing off populist surge
Success for party of the prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, despite increased support for rightwing Progress party
www.theguardian.com
September 9, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Norway's Labour party sees off far right challengers in a national election. For the rest of the European Arctic, this provides predictable conditions in Oslo, perhaps the most pivotal capital of the region www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
The Arctic Light 2025 exercise on Greenland has kicked off, including troops from Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway. The NATO framing is ambiguous. www.forsvaret.dk/en/news/2025...
Large-Scale Exercise in Greenland with NATO Allies
In September, there will be increased military activity in and around Greenland as the Danish Armed Forces conduct training with allied forces during exercise Arctic Light 2025. The aim is to strength...
www.forsvaret.dk
September 9, 2025 at 9:45 AM
The Arctic Light 2025 exercise on Greenland has kicked off, including troops from Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway. The NATO framing is ambiguous. www.forsvaret.dk/en/news/2025...
The USCG icebreaker Stories is currently tracing Russia's claimed Arctic EEZ boundary in move that mirrors recent Sino-Russian behaviour near Alaska gcaptain.com/newest-u-s-i...
Newest U.S. Icebreaker ‘Storis’ Conducts Extensive Patrol Along Russian Maritime Boundary in Arctic
The newest U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker, Storis, continues a sweeping Arctic patrol along Russia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Along the way it also monitored Chinese research vessel activity off the coas...
gcaptain.com
September 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The USCG icebreaker Stories is currently tracing Russia's claimed Arctic EEZ boundary in move that mirrors recent Sino-Russian behaviour near Alaska gcaptain.com/newest-u-s-i...
Following the launch of NATO's new Allied Forces Northern Europe HQ near the Finno-Russian border in early September, Russia plans to build fortifications along the border fence militarnyi.com/en/news/russ...
Russia Will Build Fortifications on the Border With Finland - Militarnyi
Russia has announced the start of construction of fortifications on the border with Finland.
militarnyi.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Following the launch of NATO's new Allied Forces Northern Europe HQ near the Finno-Russian border in early September, Russia plans to build fortifications along the border fence militarnyi.com/en/news/russ...
Fun to see a U.S. activist rehash the Wrangel Island debate: Wrangel, near Chukotka, has a messy history. It was settled by Canadians and Americans before a 1924 Soviet takeover became one of the only direct violent encounters ever between the U.S. and the USSR. nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ru...
Russia Is Quietly Building a New Arctic Military Base—on American Land
For more than 100 years, Russia has illegally occupied Wrangel Island, an American-claimed island in the Arctic—and has now fortified it with a military base.
nationalinterest.org
September 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Fun to see a U.S. activist rehash the Wrangel Island debate: Wrangel, near Chukotka, has a messy history. It was settled by Canadians and Americans before a 1924 Soviet takeover became one of the only direct violent encounters ever between the U.S. and the USSR. nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ru...
USCG Healy dispatched to Arctic in U.S. effort to monitor Chinese icebreakers in U.S.' claimed Exclusive Economic Zone www.highnorthnews.com/en/chinese-r...
Chinese Research Vessels Enter U.S. Extended Continental Shelf in Arctic, Coast Guard Monitors with Icebreaker ‘Healy’
Chinese activity in the American Arctic continues to draw the attention of the U.S. Coast Guard. Two Chinese research vessels entering the Extended Continental Shelf now triggered a response by icebre...
www.highnorthnews.com
September 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
USCG Healy dispatched to Arctic in U.S. effort to monitor Chinese icebreakers in U.S.' claimed Exclusive Economic Zone www.highnorthnews.com/en/chinese-r...
Russian triumphalism over the Power of Siberia 2 memorandum with China and Mongolia can't overshadow crucial sticking points: Dwindling natural gas demand in China, lack of market confidence in Gazprom and worries that the company won't be able to recuperate the pipeline's USD 25 billion price tag.
On the sidelines of the recent SCO Summit, Russia's Gazprom signed a memorandum of understanding with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to construct the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.
China’s Bargain, Russia’s Lifeline: The Geopolitics of Power of Siberia 2
A memorandum has been reached on the long-stalled Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, but the crucial pricing negotiations are still unsettled.
buff.ly
September 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Russian triumphalism over the Power of Siberia 2 memorandum with China and Mongolia can't overshadow crucial sticking points: Dwindling natural gas demand in China, lack of market confidence in Gazprom and worries that the company won't be able to recuperate the pipeline's USD 25 billion price tag.
Big news if confirmed by China. But I'll remain sceptical whether a final agreement can be achieved, one that goes beyond the usual window dressing allowing Putin to save face. Either way, important to read this in conjunction with resumption of Novatek LNG deliveries to China last week.
Russia and China have signed a legally binding “memorandum of construction” for the Power of Siberia–2 gas pipeline, signaling a significant shift in the global gas market. But details about the deal are still scarce. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
A gas breakthrough, if it’s not all hot air Russian authorities announce memorandum on Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline that could reshape Chinese and global markets — Meduza
During Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, Russia’s delegation reportedly signed 22 documents — a whirlwind of memoranda, protocols, contracts, and agreements that include a potentially “breakthrough”…
meduza.io
September 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Big news if confirmed by China. But I'll remain sceptical whether a final agreement can be achieved, one that goes beyond the usual window dressing allowing Putin to save face. Either way, important to read this in conjunction with resumption of Novatek LNG deliveries to China last week.
Check out my new post for 66° North - I lightheartedly ignore Donald Trump’s Alaskan rendezvous with Putin. Instead, I focus on this year’s U.S.-China sparring over icebreaker deployments, alongside a review of Chinese media coverage of the issue.
66north.substack.com/p/low-ice-hi...
66north.substack.com/p/low-ice-hi...
Low Ice, High Drama: Arctic politics in August
China and the U.S. trade barbs, S. Korea mulls Arctic shipping, NATO builds Nordic hubs
66north.substack.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Check out my new post for 66° North - I lightheartedly ignore Donald Trump’s Alaskan rendezvous with Putin. Instead, I focus on this year’s U.S.-China sparring over icebreaker deployments, alongside a review of Chinese media coverage of the issue.
66north.substack.com/p/low-ice-hi...
66north.substack.com/p/low-ice-hi...
Reposted by Lukas Wahden
overthecircle.com/2025/08/30/n... The Norwegian government has just published a new Arctic strategy paper. How will foreign affairs, including the northern affairs and security, factor into the vote on 8 September?
Norway’s Arctic Policy and a Kaleidoscope Election
Nordic flags at Stortinget (Norwegian Parliament), in Oslo. [Photo by Marc Lanteigne] by Marc Lanteigne Election season has begun in earnest in Norway, as the country now faces a host of domes…
overthecircle.com
August 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
overthecircle.com/2025/08/30/n... The Norwegian government has just published a new Arctic strategy paper. How will foreign affairs, including the northern affairs and security, factor into the vote on 8 September?
Foreign Minister Barrot becomes the next high-ranking official from France to visit Greenland in response to tensions with the U.S.
Dans le viseur des Etats-Unis, le Groenland accueille le ministre français des Affaires étrangères
Jean-Noël Barrot est arrivé à Nuuk samedi soir, quelques jours après de nouvelles tensions entre Copenhague et Washington
Jean-Noël Barrot est arrivé à Nuuk samedi soir, quelques jours après de nouvelles tensions entre Copenhague et Washington
Dans le viseur des Etats-Unis, le Groenland accueille le ministre français des Affaires étrangères
www.liberation.fr
August 31, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Foreign Minister Barrot becomes the next high-ranking official from France to visit Greenland in response to tensions with the U.S.
Reposted by Lukas Wahden
⚡️ Russia's Rosneft net income plummets 68%, Reuters reports.
Oil prices were dragged down by production hikes by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries.
Oil prices were dragged down by production hikes by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries.
Russia's Rosneft net income plummets 68%, Reuters reports
Oil prices were dragged down by production hikes by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries.
kyivindependent.com
August 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM
⚡️ Russia's Rosneft net income plummets 68%, Reuters reports.
Oil prices were dragged down by production hikes by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries.
Oil prices were dragged down by production hikes by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC countries.
N. Patrushev was interviewed by Rossiyskaya gazeta on the anniversary of being promoted/demoted to head of Russia's Maritime Collegium. In a nutshell: Oceans are becoming main arena of West's "anti-Russia policy"
Море любит сильных - Российская газета
Патрушев: Россия создает флот, способный решать любые задачи в Мировом океане
rg.ru
August 29, 2025 at 8:32 AM
N. Patrushev was interviewed by Rossiyskaya gazeta on the anniversary of being promoted/demoted to head of Russia's Maritime Collegium. In a nutshell: Oceans are becoming main arena of West's "anti-Russia policy"
Reposted by Lukas Wahden
A short piece on Norwegian security policy: upnorth.eu/from-hygge-t...
From Hygge to High Alert: Norway’s Turn to Hard Security - The Northern European :: UpNorth
Few countries project a gentler international image than Norway, with its fjord tourism, free-range parenting and electric-vehicle leadership. Behind its pastoral reputation, however, Oslo...
upnorth.eu
July 22, 2025 at 11:22 AM
A short piece on Norwegian security policy: upnorth.eu/from-hygge-t...
@maltehumpert.bsky.social reports: After more than a year of refusing shipments from Russia's embattled Arctic LNG 2 site, China appears to have relented to Russian overtures and resumed purchases from the site gcaptain.com/russias-arct...
Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 Delivers First Cargo to China After Year-Long Wait, Signaling Possible Shift in Beijing’s Sanctions Stance
A gas carrier in service of Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project has docked at a Chinese terminal for the first time, ending more than a year of uncertainty for one of Moscow’s most ambitious ener...
gcaptain.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:27 PM
@maltehumpert.bsky.social reports: After more than a year of refusing shipments from Russia's embattled Arctic LNG 2 site, China appears to have relented to Russian overtures and resumed purchases from the site gcaptain.com/russias-arct...
@arneoholm.bsky.social, editor-in-chief of the @highnorthnews.bsky.social, comments on Norway's new Arctic strategy: The securitisation of everything Arctic still too often coincides with atrophying social economic conditions in Arctic regions. www.highnorthnews.com/nb/nordomrad...
Nordområde-strategi: De samme slagordene, men en helt annen og dramatisk situasjon
Kirkenes (Kommentar): Utenriksminister Espen Barth Eide var statssekretær i Forsvarsdepartementet da Arbeiderpartiet første gang lanserte sin nordområdepolitikk. Nå, 20 år senere, er problemene de sam...
www.highnorthnews.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:52 AM
@arneoholm.bsky.social, editor-in-chief of the @highnorthnews.bsky.social, comments on Norway's new Arctic strategy: The securitisation of everything Arctic still too often coincides with atrophying social economic conditions in Arctic regions. www.highnorthnews.com/nb/nordomrad...