The Coming Battle Over the Arctic

By Max Bergmann and Otto Svendsen – Time

Since the end of the Cold War, the High North has been defined by the idea of “Arctic exceptionalism,” the common understanding that the region had unwritten rules, beliefs, and history that protected it from great-power rivalry. Under this shield, China emerged in recent years as a new power in the European Arctic through increased trade, investments, and scientific cooperation. But Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has disrupted this delicate status quo in profound ways. The European Arctic is fast becoming an arena in which the U.S. and its allies must compete directly with its geopolitical foes.