Norway hints at barring Russia from Arctic Archipelago of Svalbard

Russia says move to block access to Barentsburg settlement would be 'unlawful'

Norway has suggested it may bar Russia from accessing the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, which lies about halfway between Norway and the North Pole. This comes amid increasing tensions between the two countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Svalbard is home to the Russian mining settlement of Barentsburg, which has a population of around 500 people.

What is Svalbard?

Svalbard is a group of islands located in the Arctic Ocean. It is part of the Kingdom of Norway, but it has a special status under the Svalbard Treaty. The treaty was signed in 1920 and it gives all signatories equal rights to exploit the archipelago's resources. More than 40 countries have signed it, including Russia.

The treaty also states that Svalbard should be used for peaceful purposes only and that no military installations should be built on the islands. Barentsburg was established in 1920 by a Dutch company, but it was sold to the Soviet Union in 1932. The settlement is now owned by the Russian state-owned company Arktikugol.

Norway's concerns about Russia's activities in Svalbard

Norway has expressed concerns about Russia's activities in Svalbard in recent years. In 2015, Norway accused Russia of violating the Svalbard Treaty by building a military base on the island of Alexandra Land. Norway also said that Russia was increasing its military presence in the archipelago and that this was a threat to Norway's security.

Russia has denied these accusations, but tensions have continued to rise between the two countries. In 2022, Norway banned Russian fishing vessels from entering its waters in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Norway has also said that it may bar Russia from accessing Barentsburg if Russia continues to violate the Svalbard Treaty.

Russia's response to Norway's threats

Russia has said that any move by Norway to bar it from accessing Svalbard would be "unlawful". Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "Russia will take all necessary measures to protect its rights and interests in Svalbard".