The member states of the Arctic Council are creating a new operationally-focused mechanism to strengthen maritime cooperation and coordination in the Arctic. The eight member countries will launch an Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF), TASS reported, citing Dave French, Chief of Media Relations at US Coast Guard.

Membership of this cooperative initiative includes Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, the Russian Federation, Finland, the United States and Sweden, Mr. French said.

He said the ACGF will be an operationally-focused forum that strengthens maritime cooperation and coordination in the Arctic.

According to Mr. French, the ACGF will facilitate the implementation of Arctic Council agreements. At the same time, it will be an independent organization making its own decision and action plans.

The new organization will start working this fall, during the October 28-30 meeting of the coast guard commandants from the eight member states at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.