 Southern Fagerfjord is in itself an insignificant plot of land. It's in the middle of a national park and has no commercial value. But that doesn't mean it wouldn't attract interest. Svalbard has become increasingly important strategically because of the transport routes opening up in the Arctic as the polar ice recedes. What the Norwegian government wants to do in blocking the sale is to stop the land passing into the hands of undesirable parties it diplomatically doesn't name.