Back to Publications Arctic sea ice extent: A rapidly evolving geopolitical frontier. Photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center The Arctic Institute China Series 2025 The Arctic has re-emerged as a critical axis of 21st-century geopolitics. This …
Back to Publications Finland Seeks Greater Arctic Footprint Through New Arctic Foreign and Security Policy Defense News shared on November 26 that Finland published its new Arctic foreign and security strategy. Presented on November 25, the document …
Back to Publications Svalbard, the archipelago on top of the world in the Arctic Ocean, is increasingly a hotspot of geopolitical tensions. Photo: Forsvaret A swarm of drones intruding into Poland and fighter jets violating Estonian airspace; recent …
Back to Publications Arctic sunset. Photo: NOAA’s National Ocean Service The Arctic Institute China Series 2025 As a non-Arctic country, China has no legitimate territorial right within the Arctic Circle, and yet its presence and influence in the region …
Back to Publications US Finalizes ICE Pact Agreement The Hill reported on November 18 that US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signed an agreement with Canada and Finland under the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) to build 11 new …
Back to Publications Chinese and Pakistani border guards clasp hands at the Karakoram Highway’s Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved international border crossing globally. Photo: Anthony Maw The Arctic Institute China Series 2025 As China’s presence in the …
Back to Publications Russia Upgrades Northern Sea Route Meteorological Stations As reported by the Barents Observer on November 12, the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) has announced that the …
Back to Publications Vice President JD Vence visits Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, in March, 2025, to discuss ongoing missions. Trump considers Greenland crucial for US national security, highlighting that the Pituffik Space Base maintains a US military …
Back to Publications Arctic troops of the Russian Federation in 2016. Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation The Arctic Institute China Series 2025 Long insulated by geography and climate, the Arctic is no longer a passive backdrop in …
Back to Publications Canada Allocates CA$1 Billion to Arctic Infrastructure Fund As reported by CBC News on November 4, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced a CA$1 billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund as part of the 2025 federal …
Back to Publications Vladimir Putin attending a meeting with Xi Jinping during the Russian delegation’s visit to China in 2024. Photo: Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation The Arctic Institute China Series 2025 The Russian Arctic has undergone a …
Back to Publications Sweden Mining Town Faces Relocation Wall Street Journal reported on October 26 that Kiruna, Sweden, is relocating 12,000 of its 18,000 residents by 2035 due to mining operations that have destabilized the city’s foundation. In August, …
Back to Publications The Greenland ice sheet seen from space. Photo: NASA Recent controversial statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the potential annexation of Greenland – alongside Canada and Panama – have reignited debates over US …
Back to Publications Chinese Coast Guard vessels traversing icy waters during the joint exercise with Russia in 2024. Photo: China Coast Guard The Arctic Institute China Series 2025 In 2024, China inched closer to its dream of superpower status. During the …
Back to Publications A New AI Data Center for the High North On October 22, Rana Blad reported that Aker Nscale plans to build a new artificial intelligence data center in Korgen, Nordland, Northern Norway. The facility would match the scale of Aker’s …
Back to Publications Drift ice camp in the middle of the Arctic Ocean as seen from the deck of the Chinese research icebreaker Xue Long. Photo: Timo Palo The Arctic Institute China Series 2025 America has long prided itself on being the guardian of the …
Back to Publications Chinese Ship Concludes Maiden Voyage Along “China-Europe Arctic Route” Reuters reported on October 14 that the Chinese container ship Istanbul Bridge has arrived in Felixstowe Port in the United Kingdom after a 20 day maiden voyage …
Back to Publications April 2025 Central Arctic Ocean Roundtable event at Tongji University. Photo: Min Pan A prominent Western narrative portrays China as eagerly pursuing economic and strategic goals in the Arctic. U.S. Defense Department documents refer …
Back to Publications Russia Installs New Protections for Arctic Nuclear Test Site Fuel Tanks On August 14, The Barents Observer reported that Russia has covered fuel tanks at its Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site with blue metal drone nets. The tanks store …
Back to Publications A U.S. Coast Guard officer completes ice rescue training in 2018. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard Over the last few months, there has been a lot of talk about what Arctic research is needed to advance the national interests of the United …
