With Russia already a security concern, with China having more recently declared itself to be a “near Arctic power” and India following suit, the Arctic is of compelling interest.

Join us in exploring some of the geopolitical, social and environmental challenges for national and international security strategy in our polar regions. Climate changes, shifting geopolitical rivalries and vulnerabilities loom. Rapid political, social and environment changes present numerous, complex questions about critical mineral resources, environmental protection, sustainability, food security, and maritime operations in Arctic shipping lanes.  

We are fortunate in an exceptionally knowledgeable and engaging panel.

Her Excellency Hanne Fugl Eskjær, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Canada. Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjaer has served in Ottawa since September 2019, and enjoys strengthening the already strong bonds between Canada, Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The ambassador was previously the Arctic Ambassador and Head of the North America Department in Copenhagen. Ambassador Eskjaer has also been the Ambassador to Bangladesh and for the past 25 years held various Ministry of Foreign Affairs positions throughout the world, including Syria, Czech Republic and UN in New York – working on EU, UN, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Asia, Security, Development, Indigenous rights and cultural policies. The ambassador has also worked as Senior Policy Advisor to the Commissioner for Human Rights and Democracy of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and as Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Science, Copenhagen University. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.

Dr. Christian Leuprecht, co-editor of the 2022 study “Polar Cousins: Comparing Antarctic and Arctic Geostrategic Futures” (book is available open access from University of Calgary Press: https://ucp.manifoldapp.org/projects/978177385389). Professor in Leadership at the Royal Military College since 1998 and at Queen’s University’s Institute for Intergovernmental Affairs School of Policy Studies since 2019; Editor-in-chief CAF‘s Canadian Military Journal since 2021.

Moderator: 

Jennifer Irish, Consultant and Councillor, Canadian International Council (National Capital Branch) and Co-Program Director of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Leadership Program at the University of Ottawa’s Telfer Centre of Executive Leadership.  Former Canadian diplomat (5 postings) and national and international security executive, including with Global Affairs, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and the Privy Council Office.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/safety-and-security-in-the-arctic-canadian-and-european-foreign-policies-tickets-576736653857

Name and contact details of event coordinator: Margaret Huber, Chair of the Europe Study Group, margarethe.huber@icloud.com