367
Arctic Yearbook 2015
Seven nations sent their foreign minister (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Republic of Korea, Netherlands,
Norway and Sweden) to join Secretary Kerry and the remaining delegations were led by high-level
representatives, many who represent non-Arctic states as Observers to the Arctic Council. In my
judgment equally important is that this was a U.S. domestic political venue crafted to address three themes:
remind Americans the United States is an Arctic nation; emphasize the importance of rapid Arctic
climate change observed in Alaska; and, provide an opportunity for President Obama to speak with
Alaskans and hold key meetings with indigenous people who live in America’s Arctic. The GLACIER
Conference and the President’s visits to Seward, Dillingham and Kotzebue (a community located
above the Arctic Circle on the Chukchi Sea) gained global media coverage highlighting a broad range
of Arctic, Alaskan and global climate issues.
The GLACIER Conference – led by Secretary Kerry – was organized into three sets of sessions for
the more than 400 participants: one for the foreign ministers and official delegations, and two for the
experts, actors and stakeholders who were invited by the White House and St FRFW'F