On Wednesday (13 November), experts from NATO, Allied countries, industry, and the innovation community met at NATO’s first Arctic Space Forum in Helsinki, Finland, to explore how space-based capabilities can strengthen deterrence, resilience, and situational awareness in the High North.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska and Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen opened the event. In her address, the Deputy Secretary General highlighted the critical importance of space in keeping the Arctic region safe.
The Deputy Secretary General and Minister Häkkänen were later joined by the Ministers of Defense from Norway, Denmark, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Iceland for a fireside chat. Together, they discussed the strategic relevance of the Arctic region for trade, transport, and communication between North America and Europe, and the challenges to Arctic security, including climate change, rising global competition in the region, and Russia’s increased military presence. They further explored how space-based solutions, including commercial ones, can help enhance NATO’s surveillance capacity and its broader deterrence and defense.
The Arctic Space Forum provided a unique platform to enhance NATO cooperation with space industry. Discussions will help inform the implementation of NATO’s Commercial Space Strategy, which was approved in February 2025.
While in Finland, the Deputy Secretary General participated in the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) ministerial meeting and visited the Merihaka civilian shelter. She also met Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, and other senior national officials.
