{"id":280,"date":"2025-05-16T10:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T08:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.nord.no\/youngarctic\/?p=280"},"modified":"2025-05-16T10:21:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T08:21:17","slug":"daniel-25-the-north-has-what-it-takes-but-we-cant-be-naive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.nord.no\/youngarctic\/2025\/05\/16\/daniel-25-the-north-has-what-it-takes-but-we-cant-be-naive\/","title":{"rendered":"Daniel (25): \u201cThe North has what it takes \u2014 but we can\u2019t be naive\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Daniel Solvang, originally from Kongsberg, moved north about five years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He first came to Bardufoss for military service, and later stayed to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in international relations and a year of economics at Nord University in Bod\u00f8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 It\u2019s been fantastic living in Northern Norway. I\u2019ve always appreciated the region, and even more so after my military service, he says.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His time in the North sparked a deeper interest in security policy and influenced his decision to study in Bod\u00f8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 There are other universities that offer similar programs, but I chose Bod\u00f8 because you\u2019re right in the middle of the geopolitical landscape, he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photo: Markus Thonhaugen<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security challenges in a changing region<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Daniel, the concept of “new realities<\/em>” in the Arctic is not abstract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He believes Norway is entering a new security era. One that requires clear-eyed decisions and stronger national preparedness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 We\u2019ve been used to thinking of the North as calm and stable, but global tensions are increasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The worst thing we can do now is being naive.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s particularly concerned about the protection of critical infrastructure in strategically important coastal cities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 The situation is serious. Strategic coastal cities need air defense and anti-drone systems to meet global threats, he reflects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photo: Markus Thonhaugen<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believing in the North\u2019s potential<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Daniel in Bod\u00f8 in December 2024. Just two months later, he landed his dream job at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace – before his final exam<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studying in the North was something he emphasized as a positive experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 I\u2019ve always appreciated the region, even more so after my military service. The strong focus on defense policy makes it an exciting place to live and study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also pointed to the need for job opportunities \u2014 and bold investments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Business in the North must adapt to uncertainty and dare to invest\u2014especially in green energy and aquaculture. These are areas where the region already has strong knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This interview was done by Markus Thonhaugen from the High North Center<\/a>, Nord University as part of the YoungArctic project<\/a> \u2014 an initiative working to make the Arctic a more attractive place for young people to settle, work, and live.<\/em> Through our Instagram page<\/a> and this blog, we share stories from youth across the region \u2014 to better understand their lives, hopes, and challenges.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Daniel Solvang, originally from Kongsberg, moved north about five years ago. He first came to Bardufoss for military service, and later stayed to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in international relations and a year of economics at Nord University in Bod\u00f8. \u2013 It\u2019s been fantastic living in Northern Norway. I\u2019ve always appreciated the region, and even … Continue reading Daniel (25): \u201cThe North has what it takes \u2014 but we can\u2019t be naive\u201d<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":186,"featured_media":283,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"coauthors":[4],"class_list":["post-280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-voices-of-the-arctic"],"yoast_head":"\nDaniel (25): \u201cThe North has what it takes \u2014 but we can\u2019t be naive\u201d - YoungArctic<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/site.nord.no\/youngarctic\/2025\/05\/16\/daniel-25-the-north-has-what-it-takes-but-we-cant-be-naive\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Daniel (25): \u201cThe North has what it takes \u2014 but we can\u2019t be naive\u201d - YoungArctic\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Daniel Solvang, originally from Kongsberg, moved north about five years ago. 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