The Arctic five are the five littoral states bordering the Arctic Ocean, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the United States. Competing narratives exist regarding international governance of the Arctic. There is debate over whether the principal actors should be the Arctic five, the Arctic Council (the Arctic five plus Finland, Iceland and Sweden) or a larger group of states. In 2008, the Arctic five concluded the Ilulissat Declaration causing concern among those not invited. The Arctic Council is perhaps the most important of the bodies involved in Arctic governance. In a briefing note prepared for the 2016 Arctic yearbook, Andreas Kursten acknowledges a widespread view that the five are usurping the Arctic Council's central position but concludes that the two groups are able to complem