Who will control the Arctic? Growing power struggle between Russia, China and the US | Explained
The Arctic is emerging as a new area of competition among major powers, with Russia holding the largest presence, controlling about half of the land and maritime exclusive economic zone north of the Arctic Circle. Russia has 30 military sites in the wider Arctic and has invested in modernizing its nuclear-powered submarine fleet. Cooperation between Russia and Western countries has been suspended since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO has created a new strategic fault line. China, though not an Arctic state, has declared itself a 'near-Arctic state' and conducted a joint Arctic patrol with Russia in 2024.
Why it matters: This illustrates the theme of great-power competition, as the Arctic becomes a strategic fault line between Russia and NATO, with China's growing involvement adding to Western concerns.