Bangladesh, Oct. 8 -- So much is written about the developments pertaining to Ukraine, but one crucial theater of tension between Russia and the West remains underreported: the Arctic and the wider High North, as visible in Norway, a founding member of NATO. Despite a recent visit by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) delegation to Norway — led by Major General Andrei Kudimov, who smiled for the cameras as both sides discussed “cooperation” on border control and fishing rights — Russo-Norwegian relations are, as a matter of fact, deteriorating fast.

Despite those talks, NATO has been conducting large-scale military exercises off Norways coast. Moreover, the United States reportedly deployed advanced reconnaiss...