Minister Joly to host Nordic counterparts in New York and Iqaluit

News release

September 27, 2024 – New York City, New York - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada will host the Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue from September 27 to 29, 2024, in New York City and Iqaluit.

In a rapidly changing Arctic marked by new challenges and increased strategic competition, deeper collaboration with like-minded Arctic states is needed.

Minister Joly will host a working dinner with her counterparts from the Nordic states on September 27, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During the dinner, the participants will discuss transatlantic security issues and exchange on opportunities to deepen cooperation on shared strategic foreign policy priorities.

On September 28, Minister Joly will travel to Iqaluit, Nunavut, with foreign ministers and representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. During their visit, they will meet with the Honourable P.J. Akeeagok, Premier of Nunavut, and members of the Cabinet of the Government of Nunavut to discuss evolving geopolitical dynamics and economic development priorities that have implications for how Canada, Nunavut and the Nordic countries approach the Arctic and the North, both individually and collectively.

The delegation will also meet with representatives of Inuit organizations to discuss their priorities and perspectives, on how to work together in support of a secure, prosperous and resilient Arctic and North, in partnership with the Indigenous Peoples and northerners who live there.

Quotes

“Canada is an Arctic and northern nation, and this is at the heart of our identity. I look forward to hosting my colleagues in the beautiful city of Iqaluit and meeting with our northern partners to identify opportunities to deepen collaboration on our common objectives in the region. Canada and the Nordic countries are natural and strategic partners, friends and allies, bound by shared values, history and people-to-people ties. This Dialogue is an important step in reinforcing these bonds and strengthening the relationships between our countries.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

In September 2019, Canada set out a long-term vision for the Canadian and circumpolar Arctic with the release of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework (ANPF), which provides overarching direction to the Government of Canada’s priorities, activities, and investments in the Arctic to 2030 and beyond.
In June 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took part in a meeting of prime ministers of the Nordic countries. At that meeting, the prime ministers tasked foreign ministers with meeting as part of a Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue, to be hosted in Canada. The meeting of foreign ministers from September 27 to 29 delivers on that commitment.
Canada is currently developing a new Arctic Foreign Policy, in consultation with Indigenous Partners, territorial governments and our Arctic Allies.
The Canadian Arctic covers 40% of Canada’s territory and is home to more than 150,000 inhabitants, more than half of whom are Indigenous.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca

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Date modified:: 2024-09-27