Articles

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

„We Have Completely Lost the Ability to Read Wars“

Security Policy Culture in Germany and the War in Ukraine

Military historian Sönke Neitzel talks to International Reports about unrealistic longings for peace and the atrophy of security policy thinking in Germany – and explains why only the US can ensure Ukraine’s survival.

Always One Step Behind?

German Security Policy after the ­­NATO Summit in Madrid

The war in Ukraine is functioning as a catalyst for the reordering of transatlantic security policy, which has been ongoing since 2014. Germany’s Zeitenwende has laid important groundwork to finally fulfil promises made to allies eight years ago. But even as the German government is preparing to take this leap forward, ­­NATO has raised the bar even further at its summit in Madrid, in June 2022. Further efforts will be needed if Germany wants to avoid breaking its promises yet again.

Approaches to the Future Battlefield

The Debate on Armed Drones in Israel and Germany as a Case Study

Notwithstanding certain immutable features of war, some of its concrete techniques do change, notably following new technological developments. Advanced electronic weapon systems, including armed drones, are a case in point. We shall examine how countries handle the opportunities and challenges involved by means of a comparative analysis of Israel and Germany.

Editorial of the issue "Conflict-ready? Western Foreign Policy in Times of Systemic Rivalry"

It has been now more than nine months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine radically changed the perceived threat for many people in Europe. In Germany, too, people have had to face up to questions of war and peace that seemed to be consigned to the past – many for the first time in their lives.

In the Clutches of Dictators?

Why We Must Reduce Economic Dependence while Resisting Isolationist Tendencies

The fatal dependence on Russian energy supplies has quite rightly catapulted trade and economic policy into the centre of the German debate. But criticism of German energy policy over the last few decades must not encourage isolationist illusions. Harmful dependencies must be identified and reduced, but economic policy focused on broad trade remains central for Germany and Europe.