Heather A. Conley

Now: Transatlantic and Arctic policy at @AEI. Former: Dep. Asst. SoS for Europe, President @GMFUS, SVP for Europe and Russia @CSIS. Mom, Scola singer, chef.

[Pål Jonson @PlJonson]

Historic day in Boden on Sweden’s National Day. The Battlegroup from Norrbotten Regiment is placed under SACEUR’s command and becomes the core of NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland. As Framework Nation, Sweden takes responsibility for Allied security in the High North. (1/2)

[François Delattre @Amb_Delattre]

Une chaîne humaine dessine sur la plage d'Omaha Beach : "France will never forget".
#DDay

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Today is the 82nd anniversary of D-Day – the Allied landings in Normandy, which significantly hastened the countdown to the Nazis' collapse in World War II. It is one of the most important moments of unity among the defenders of life in human history, and it was less than a year until the peoples’ aspiration for freedom and the hope of peace prevailed in May 1945. It happened then. We are working to make it happen again today.

And although yesterday in Petersburg another cynical order to continue killing was issued for the army trying to destroy our freedom, history has seen this before. The Nazis also had their own hopes after D-Day. But freedom still wins. And even in the darkest circumstances, people find ways to come together to protect life.

I thank all those who are now helping to protect the values that prevailed in World War II. I thank everyone who is defending life. Glory to Ukraine!

[Alex Wickham @alexwickham]

NEW: The UK is quietly taking a leading role on Greenland, trying to persuade Trump he doesn’t need to take it over by demonstrating Europe is serious about Arctic security

In last 48 hours Starmer has spoken to Trump twice about the High North, as well as Frederiksen, Rutte, Macron, Merz

The UK this week deployed 1,500 Royal Marines commandos to northern Norway. It led discussion on the topic at NATO’s North Atlantic Council. Healey sent message to Danish counterpart. All suggests a larger British role than publicly advertised

Starmer has been telling Trump that Europe will do more in the Arctic and urging European counterparts to step up their security presence and cooperation with the US there

That’s in Europe’s interests amid rising concerns about suspected Russian sabotage activity on undersea cables around Finland

But the British aim is also to persuade Trump that Europe can help with shared interests on Greenland too, rather than let it divide NATO

One diplomat described it as an effort to take the heat out of the situation, with hopes that the calmer Rubio viewpoint prevails

It’s the same UK strategy as on Ukraine negotiations and with aiding the US seizure of the tanker in the North Atlantic: demonstrating European diplomatic, military and security utility to the US

It notably contrasts with the French approach, which publicly warned this week that Europe is facing threats of US coercion

With @EllenAMilligan >>> https://t.co/m9vqZlYRk1

[Michael Weiss @michaeldweiss]

New: The U.S. has unsealed a California grand jury indictment exposing how Russian GRU hackers targeted critical infrastructure in the U.S. They hit a regional airport in Missouri, drinking water and water storage facilities in Texas, Pennsylvania and Indiana, and a meat packing facility in California. One cyber attack caused 200,000 gallons of water to overflow in Texas. Another caused 2,000 pounds of meat to spoil. https://t.co/CoWRGYBffH

[Tymofiy Mylovanov @Mylovanov]

Norway's foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide: A "cheap ceasefire" in Ukraine risks a long-term “expensive peace.”

If we allow a new "Iron Curtain" to descend on Europe, it won't affect Ukraine only – it will affect Europe. 1/

[Oksana Markarova @OMarkarova]

Thank you President @ZelenskyyUa for your trust and focus on future, while leading our country in defence. Honored to continue working together with You and our international friends to plan rebuilding, forge partnerships and attract investments - all needed to win the peace✊🇺🇦

[NATO @NATO]

Welcome to the High North 🌒

Allies are training across Norway and Sweden in a US-led exercise. Nearly 400 🇺🇸 US, 🇩🇰 Danish, 🇳🇴 Norwegian & 🇸🇪 Swedish soldiers are showing they can rapidly deploy to arctic and subarctic environments

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

Great and deeply researched piece from @AntonLaGuardia last month on the importance of Alaska and the North Pacific Arctic where we are seeing concerted Chinese and Russian activities.
And not a moment too soon ... https://t.co/t5ftJRC3bX

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

The security message is also for Moscow and Beijing.

[Lara Seligman @laraseligman]

EXCLU: Denmark plans to spend $8.5 billion on new ships and aircraft, including 16 new F-35s, Danish officials said Friday, an investment designed to stave off President Trump’s threat to take over Greenland. https://t.co/npfpVVKIEH

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

What a great week for strengthening Arctic security! 11 US Arctic security cutters and now today's announcement today from Copenhagen: $4 billion on new ships, maritime patrol aircraft, drones and an early warning radar. Needed capabilities.

[Olga Stefanishyna @StefanishynaO]

Glad to see Howard G. Buffett recognized for his tireless dedication and The Howard G. Buffett Foundation’s impactful support for Ukraine at the @cepa Leadership Awards Dinner in Washington, DC. Congratulations! 🇺🇦🤝🇺🇸

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

Exciting news that, at long last, there is a rapid path forward to substantially increase America's icebreaker fleet in close cooperation with our great ally Finland. And not a moment to lose in light of aging US icebreakers. Allied Arctic security is American security.

[Alexander Stubb @alexstubb]

Looking forward to visiting the White House today
with PM Orpo. I will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on icebreaker cooperation together with @POTUS.

The MOU lays the foundation for commercial agreements between the United States Coast Guard and Finnish companies. 1/2

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

This is the third time this month. Russia is testing American sovereignty of "Russian America." These repeated incidents also underscore the importance of the Arctic to US homeland defense. If we tell ourselves this doesn't matter, we will be ill-prepared for the future.

[Jim Sciutto @jimsciutto]

Breaking: US deployed four F-16 fighter jets, a surveillance aircraft, and four tankers to intercept Russian bombers and fighter jets that flew into Alaska’s air defense identification zone, the North American Aerospace Defense Command says. There have been at least nine such instances this year.

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

While this is true, it is the price of security dependency and continued access to the US market. Europe should be wary of the Trump flattery trap – POLITICO https://t.co/2EdxD60AUb

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

An important opportunity to strengthen North American, transatlantic and Arctic security… was missed.
https://t.co/L2NfIpSRYW

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

This is the most significant test of Polish and NATO defenses since Poland joined NATO in 1999, and it comes a week after President Trump's meeting with Polish President Nawrocki. This event has occurred on Mr. Trump's watch. A strong American and NATO response is needed.

[U.S. Ambassador to NATO @USAmbNATO]

We stand by our @NATO Allies in the face of these airspace violations and will defend every inch of NATO territory.

[American Enterprise Institute @AEI]

AEI's @ConleyHeather1: The message Polish President Nawrocki ultimately wants to give President Trump is how dangerous Putin’s revisionism is, and that it does not necessarily end with Ukraine.
https://t.co/gCAx7XHoHR

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

It's time to up America's Arctic game:
- Approve funds for a sustained Arctic Security Initiative
- Launch a public-private Arctic Critical Minerals Initiative with allies
- Submit a claim to the UN to extend the US outer continental shelf
https://t.co/wpun65T48k

[Heather A. Conley @ConleyHeather1]

The Arctic is a long, strategic play that requires sustained US prioritization, economically and militarily, accompanied by long-term public-private investment.
In my recent piece, I suggest that Russia and China already believe the Arctic is the next 'great game.'