Will the Arctic be the next area of Big Power Rivalry?

Last week I participated in an Arctic thematic day at the Swedish National Defense University. I gave a presentation on Chinese objectives and activities in the Arctic. Dr T Ries talked about Russian objectives and activities focusing on military related issues. Gen (ret) S. Diesen addressed issues relating to Svalbard and Ms K. Sandklef talked about Chinese economic activities in the Arctic region.

Reflecting on all this and adding a more resolute US policy towards the Arctic, it paints a rather disturbing picture. The Arctic with its beautiful and exceptional nature, risks becoming yet another area of big power rivalry. For Sweden, stronger efforts towards reducing the risks of further militarization of the Arctic region should be a key policy objective. Assessing current and proposed defense policy, Arctic considerations are hard to find in how resources are being allocated to various equipment programs and units. A stronger focus on naval capabilities, maritima and air surveillance, search and rescue capabilities and air defense could make a credible contribution to a more asserted

Arctic policy.