Oslo cites national security concerns amid increased Russian and Chinese interest in Svalbard and ‘high north’
Norway has blocked the sale of the last privately owned property on Svalbard, invoking national security considerations amid increasing activity from Russia and China in the Arctic Ocean. Oslo’s centre-left government informed the owners of the Søre Fagerfjord property on the Arctic archipelago that they could sell it only with the approval of the Norwegian state after they suggested there had been Chinese interest in an acquisition.
The property includes 60 sq km of land including the small island of Reinholmen. Norway’s government offered NKr20mn , and public broadcaster NRK said it had bid the same amount last week. A lawyer for the Norwegian government has suggested the commercial value of the land is almost zero as it is difficult to reach and subject to strict environmental restrictions, according to local media.
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