High North Center Director Andreas Raspotnik speaks to the visiting ministers at Nord University. Photo: Ellisiv Flatval.
The two-day programme also included visits to the Norwegian Joint Headquarters at Reitan and NATO’s new Combined Air Operations Centre in Bodø.
According to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers discussed developments in the High North, defence and security, space cooperation and support for Ukraine.
“The High North is Norway’s most important strategic priority, and a region of growing importance for European security,” Eide said in a press release.
German media followed the visit
The trip received attention in several German media outlets.
- RND, reporting from Bodø, described Wadephul’s trip as an “Arctic mission”. The article covered Russia’s military presence in the region, climate change, new shipping routes and access to resources.
- Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote about the visit under the heading “Germany looks north”, focusing on cooperation between Norway and Germany and Norway’s role in the North Atlantic.
- German public broadcaster Tagesschau also reported from the trip, including Wadephul’s visit to the Norwegian Joint Headquarters and the cooperation between Norway and Germany on defence.
High North on the programme
Ahead of the visit, the German Federal Foreign Office listed several issues connected to the Arctic, including climate change, shipping routes, critical raw materials, hydrogen and access to space.
The Foreign Office also mentioned the visit to the High North Center specifically. It said the visit was intended to intensify discussions with academics on these issues, including the need for sustainable economic activity in the region.
At Nord University, Wadephul and Eide met representatives from the High North Center, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Nordlab, as well as the university leadership.
The ministers also took part in a crisis-management exercise at Nordlab, Nord University’s Center for Crisis Management and Collaboration.
The scenario involved responding to a vessel on fire that was carrying nuclear material. Led by Professor Natalia Andreassen, the exercise drew on lessons from the ATOMEX research project on nuclear emergency preparedness in the maritime Arctic.
Nordlab has shared more about the exercise on LinkedIn.
“It was valuable to broaden the conversation beyond geopolitics and climate change and highlight the Arctic’s - our High North - wider socio-economic opportunities and challenges, including shipping, space, economic development, and the future of northern communities, while sharing some of the work we are doing here at Nord University and the High North Center,” says HNC Director Andreas Raspotnik.
Norway and Germany strengthen cooperation
Norway and Germany have expanded their cooperation in defence in recent years.
The two countries are working together on the 212CD submarine programme, and a new bilateral defence agreement covers areas including maritime security, space-based surveillance and defence industry.
Space was also part of the programme. Norway and Germany cooperate through Andøya Spaceport, where German company Isar Aerospace carried out its first test launch from Andøya Spaceport in 2025.
“Norway is an essential partner for Germany in the High North as regards values, security and trade,” Wadephul said.
