In May, Iceland took over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council of Finland. However, the work of the intergovernmental forum of Arctic states, Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants, founded in 1996, was disrupted at the ministerial meeting. The successful attempt on the part of the United States to prevent any mention of climate change in the usual final declaration has triggered an outraged international response. Just as critically received was the speech of the US Secretary of State. What does this mean for the future of the Arctic Council and the Arctic in general?