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David Cheskin, empics, picture alliance.

From Zone of Peace to Hotbed of Conflict?

The Geopolitical Importance of the Arctic

The Arctic is increasingly becoming the focus of geopolitical interests. When Mikhail Gorbachev declared the Arctic a “zone of peace” in Murmansk in 1987, it was a sign of hope for constructive cooperation between the Arctic states, but today – especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in violation of international law – a grim picture is emerging of power struggles, mistrust and militarisation.

Michael Däumer

April 18, 2023

International Reports

Tobias, AdobeStock

Maritime Zones under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Areas of Influence of the Coastal States

What belongs to whom in the Arctic? In the absence of an “Arctic Treaty”, it is the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea which defines rules on the status of different maritime zones – not only, but also in the Arctic.

April 18, 2023

International Reports

Marine, dpa, picture-alliance.

New Perspectives on the Far North

Risks and Options for Germany’s Arctic Policy

Germany’s Arctic policy to date has largely consisted of declarations of intent concerning environmental protection and multilateralism. This has to change: after all, Russia is taking an increasingly confrontational stance in the Arctic too, where it is pursuing a military build-up. At the same time, China is likewise adopting a more ambitious approach in the region. For this reason, security must play a greater role in Germany’s deliberations on the Far North in future.

Knut Abraham

April 18, 2023

International Reports

Ulrik Pedersen, NurPhoto, picture alliance.

The Arctic Policy of the Nordic Countries

Between Climate Change, Economic Use and Security

Vast expanses of snow and ice populated only by polar bears: this is an image of the Arctic that only partly reflects reality. Even though protecting the climate and the natural Arctic landscape is of central concern to the Nordic countries, economic activity is also a feature of the regions north of the Arctic Circle. Moreover, the issue of security is now high on the list of priorities again – particularly since Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Gabriele Baumann, Julian Tucker

April 18, 2023

International Reports

Valery Sharifulin, TASS, dpa, picture alliance.

The Melting Shield

The Russian Arctic as a Geopolitical Hotspot

The High North has traditionally been of great importance to Russia – not only as a storehouse of raw materials but also in terms of security policy. While the melting of the ice is opening up new economic opportunities for Moscow, it is also depriving the country of natural protection against military attacks. As a result, the remilitarisation of the Russian Arctic is in full swing.

Dr. Thomas Kunze, Leonardo Salvador

April 18, 2023

International Reports

J. Scott Applewhite, AP, picture alliance.

The North American View of the Arctic

How Canada and the United States Are Responding to Changes in the Far North

When the legendary American naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan set out the founding doctrine of the US Navy at the end of the 19th century with its central principle of maritime dominance, there was no mention of the Arctic. Yet with the rebuilding of Russian maritime capabilities after the Cold War and the simultaneous heightening of Chinese ambitions to challenge American hegemony at every opportunity, there has been a significant shift in the importance of the Arctic for both the United States and Canada. This poses considerable challenges for both of these Arctic littoral states in terms of their security policy.

Dr. Norbert Eschborn

April 18, 2023

International Reports

Zhang Jiansong, Photoshot, picture alliance.

The Self-Proclaimed Near-Arctic State

China’s Policy in the Northern Polar Region

Some 13 degrees of latitude separate the northernmost point of China from the Arctic Circle. Yet for years now, the People’s Republic has been pushing to expand its influence in the Arctic. This is firstly due to the fact that as a rising economic power, it is hungry for raw materials. Secondly, the leadership in Beijing has identified the region as an important zone in a potential future superpower conflict.

David Merkle

April 18, 2023

International Reports

Michal, AdobeStock

What the Various States (Officially) Want in the Arctic

An Overview of Arctic Strategies of Selected Countries

The United States and Russia have one, and so do Norway and Finland: an official Arctic strategy. The Arctic states are not the only ones to have set down their goals and priorities with regard to the northern polar region, however. Other countries at varying distances from the Arctic Circle have likewise adopted strategy papers of this kind, including China and India as well as Germany.

Dr. Sören Soika, Fabian Wagener

April 18, 2023

International Reports

Stefanie Arndt, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, CC-BY 4.0

Threats of Irreversible Losses

Climate Change in the Arctic and the Consequences of Russia’s War in Ukraine for International Research Cooperation

Professor Boetius is a marine researcher and Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, the leading German institution in the field of polar and marine research. In an interview with International Reports, she explains why climate change threatens to cause irreversible losses in the Arctic, why the Russian attack on Ukraine has also severely impacted research in the polar region, and what she is still keen to find out about the Arctic.

Dr. Sören Soika, Fabian Wagener

February 22, 2023

International Reports

Elizabeth Frantz, Reuters.

“Jeffersonians” on the Rise

Traditional Internationalists in the US Are Running Out of Supporters

Americans have lost their appetite for “nation building” and being the “world’s policeman” – problems at home are getting out of hand. But the US still defends its claim to global leadership, either with “enlightened nationalism” or “America First”. Europe’s preparation should go beyond addressing Donald Trump.

Paul Linnarz

December 6, 2022

International Reports