The Arctic Chairs met Jan. 21, 2026, and the meeting centered on the theme of innovation, with participants examining how emerging approaches can address the unique operational challenges of the Arctic across both civilian and military domains. The discussion began with an overview of innovative practices and technologies, emphasizing the growing importance of dual-use capabilities, particularly in sectors critical to Arctic resilience such as communications infrastructure and transportation, including sea lines of communication.
The Arctic Chairs underscored that innovation requires rapid adaption to achieve effectiveness. While adaptation is essential in any environment, the Arctic’s harsh and unpredictable conditions elevate the need for deliberate, sustained collaboration. The group framed this challenge through a guiding question: “How can collaboration assist with the development of innovative approaches to current challenges within the Arctic?” This prompted a related inquiry: “Who is adapting dual-use technology in unexpected, innovative ways, across disciplines?” Participants emphasized that meaningful progress depends not only on cooperation among nation-states, but also on strong partnerships between governments, academia, and the private sector—communities often driving the leading edge of innovation.
A significant portion of the dialogue focused on integrating artificial intelligence into dual-use systems. Examples included autonomous sensors capable of functioning reliably in extreme Arctic conditions and unmanned systems designed to operate with minimal human intervention. Participants highlighted the Arctic as a proving ground for emerging technologies: systems that demonstrate resilience in this environment are likely to perform effectively in less demanding conditions.
The meeting concluded with the introduction of Mr. Matthew “Matt” Bell, Dean of the School of Arctic Security Studies (SASS) at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. Dean Bell will provide a brief overview during the February meeting of upcoming SASS course offerings.
The proposed theme for the February session is Arctic emergency response, encompassing civilian and military perspectives on search and rescue (SAR), catastrophic incident search and rescue (CISAR), and combat search and rescue (CSAR). Suggested discussion questions include:
- What lessons learned can the Arctic Chairs provide regarding cross-border coordination involving a catastrophic event in the high north?
- How does your nation manage a catastrophic event? Is it a “whole of government” approach involving interagency coordination, to include your military?
- What forecasting technologies does your nation use to assist in prediction to prevent or manage CISAR events?
Participants also shared suggested readings to deepen engagement with January’s innovation-focused discussions.
See Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom, “New Royal Navy undersea warfare technology unveiled to counter threat from Russia,” 08DEC25,
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/december/08/20241208-atlantic-bastion
See Naval Technology, “Atlantic Bastion, Lunna House, and Opportunities for Industry in the High North,” 14JAN26,
https://www.naval-technology.com/analyst-comment/atlantic-bastion-lunna-house-high-north/
Federioc Borsari and Gordon B. “Skip” Davis, High Stakes in the High North: Harnessing Uncrewed Capabilities for Arctic Defense and Security,” 2025,
The TSC’s National and Arctic Interest Chairs program integrates national Arctic security networks as well as distinguished subject matter experts to advance a common understanding of and best practices for Arctic security and defense. The Chairs include representatives from Norway, Sweden, and Canada as well as Chairs from the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska National Guard, NOAA and Chairs for Energy & Economics as well as Polar Governance.