(7 May 2019) The Arctic is melting, but don't ask US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to talk about climate change, nor to agree on a text that mentions it.
For the Trump administration, disappearing sea ice in the world's "high north" is first and foremost an opportunity to exploit rather than a crisis to mitigate.
That position was made clear by Pompeo over two days as the foreign ministers of the eight members of the Arctic Council met in Finland, which is wrapping up its two-year chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini said Tuesday there would be no joint declaration as the summit couldn't get the United States to agree on a text that includes language about climate change.
Instead, statements from the participating ministers and Finland, which currently chairs the council, were signed.
Official US statements and documents prepared for the meeting did not refer to "climate change" and their scientific focus was limited to reductions in US carbon emissions that predate the administration and research.
Instead, Pompeo's focus during his two-day visit was largely an admonition against increasing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic.
"The Trump administration shares your deep commitment to environmental stewardship, in fact, it's one reason why Chinese activity which has cause environmental destruction in other regions continues to concern us in the Arctic," Pompeo said.
Addressing counterparts in the plenary hall, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, said Russia was "open to the widest kind of cooperation in the Arctic."
He added, "there are no reasons for conflicts and for getting military methods involved in solving any issues arising here. The existing international law allows to reliably ensure all the national interests of all the Arctic states and the countries of this region."

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