The exercise brought together more than 100 participants from 21 countries. It was organised by, among others, the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and several international research and security organisations. Representatives from authorities, academia, industry and international organisations participated to discuss how societies and organisations can strengthen their ability to manage disruptions and hybrid threats in the Arctic region.

For the Secretariat, participation was an opportunity to contribute experience from Swedish polar operations and Arctic logistics.

– The Arctic is an environment where research, infrastructure and international cooperation are closely linked. The exercise provided valuable perspectives on resilience, communication and operational capability in polar regions, says Åsa Lindgren, Senior Expert at the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.

Focus on Arctic infrastructure and cooperation

CORE25-A was the first exercise in the Coherent Resilience series to focus entirely on the Arctic. The scenarios covered, among other things:

• maritime infrastructure 
• communication systems
• satellite navigation
• crisis preparedness
• information sharing
• strategic communication in the Arctic. 

The report from the exercise also emphasises the need for increased international cooperation and robust Arctic capacity, including icebreaking capability and civil-military coordination.

– For the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, these issues are relevant through the agency’s work with research expeditions in the Arctic, including expeditions with the research icebreaker Oden. The need for robust Arctic research infrastructure is also an important part of the work towards a future Swedish research icebreaker, says Åsa Lindgren.

Link to research and Polar Connect

The exercise also addressed issues related to critical underwater infrastructure, satellite communications and international data connections in the Arctic – areas that are becoming increasingly important as research collaborations and digital infrastructure develop in the region.

This also ties into initiatives such as Polar Connect, where Sweden, together with international partners, is exploring possibilities for future digital infrastructure and data communication in the Arctic.

– For us, it is important to follow developments in the Arctic and contribute perspectives from research and polar logistics. This type of international exercise also creates valuable contacts between different actors working in the region, says Åsa Lindgren.