A new research initiative, Securing Norway’s Waters: Legal and Political Responses to Maritime Hybrid Threats in the Arctic (SecureSeas), has secured NOK 12 million (approximately USD 1.1 million) from the Research Council of Norway to enhance the country’s preparedness for hybrid threats in its vast Arctic maritime territory. Led by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), the project aims to address escalating security challenges in a region where traditional distinctions between war and peace are increasingly blurred.
Norway oversees a maritime area eight times larger than its mainland, much of it in the Arctic, where hybrid threats—ranging from cyberattacks and disinformation to infrastructure sabotage and covert intelligence-gathering—are on the rise. The project will explore how these threats manifest, how international law applies, and how Norway and other coastal states can respond effectively. By examining legal frameworks and policy options, SecureSeas seeks to strengthen Norway’s ability to detect and counter hybrid activities, such as provocative military exercises, illegal resource exploitation, or economic coercion.
The initiative brings together a diverse coalition, including the FNI, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Nord University, The Arctic Institute, Hybrid CoE, and researchers from Japan, Finland, and the United States. Norwegian stakeholders, such as the Coast Guard, Armed Forces’ Joint Headquarters, and industry groups like the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, are also key partners. This collaboration aims to integrate expertise from law, geopolitics, defense, and industry to develop practical tools and strategies for a volatile security environment.
Over its four-year duration, SecureSeas will focus on clarifying legal ambiguities in the law of the sea, identifying operational boundaries, and enhancing strategic responses to hybrid threats. The project’s findings are expected to bolster Norway’s resilience against provocative actions by actors like Russia and China, who use subtle tactics to shift power dynamics without triggering open conflict. By fostering a deeper understanding of these challenges, the initiative will contribute to stronger national and regional security in the Arctic.
