Early 2021 was a heady time for then foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney and his department. Tortuous Brexit negotiations and Ireland successfully joining the UN security council had all boosted Ireland’s profile on the world stage. Coveney appeared eager to extend Ireland’s diplomatic hand to the Arctic and floated plans for Ireland to apply for observer status at the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental body that attempts to coordinate policies for the region. An observer state has no vote but this status does give a country a seat at the table and an upfront view of the state of play in…

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