Why are tensions high in the Arctic? | Explained

Escalating tensions in the Arctic over untapped resources and territorial claims raise concerns of potential conflict.

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International observers have raised concerns about escalating tensions in the Arctic, warning that if left unchecked, they could eventually spark conflict in the region.

The Arctic, the northernmost area of the planet, has remained largely isolated for centuries. However, as climate change accelerates the melting of ice caps, new strategic opportunities are emerging for global powers. Beneath the frozen landscape lie untapped reserves of natural resources such as fossil fuels, rare earth elements, phosphates, and copper as well as lucrative fishing grounds.

Most of these resources are currently inaccessible due to the year-round ice barrier, but as climate change destroys the Arctic environment, these resources and nearby trade routes will become increasingly viable. Unlike the Antarctic, which is demilitarised and environmentally protected by a dedicated international treaty, the Arctic lacks similar legal safeguards and is primarily governed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This allows nations to claim territories in the region and deploy military infrastructure. In recent years, overlapping maritime claims and military posturing have exacerbated tensions.

The various islands and coastal areas in the Arctic are controlled by eight countries — Canada, Denmark (through Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S. Together, these nations form the Arctic Council, an international body tasked with protecting the environment, conducting scientific research, and safeguarding the interests of indigenous peoples in the region. These nations exercise sovereignty over the Arctic land and can also exploit resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). The waters between these territories fall under international jurisdiction, ensuring freedom of navigation.

According to UNCLOS, nations can extend their claims to the seabed beyond the 200-nautical-mile EEZ if they can prove that the area is a natural prolongation of their continental shelf. Canada, Denmark, and Russia have all submitted overlapping claims to the Arctic seabed to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. Despite these territorial declarations, infrastructure in the Arctic remains underdeveloped, with only a few operational ports along the coast. Among the Arctic Council members, Russia is the only country with a significant fleet of icebreakers, including one which is nuclear-powered, capable of navigating through the region’s treacherous sea ice.

For months, news headlines have reported on U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark. He has described the world’s largest island as a matter of “ national security” and has questioned the legitimacy of Denmark’s sovereignty over the territory. Greenland, which has been under Danish control for over 300 years, also hosts the U.S. Pituffik military base. In January, following Mr. Trump’s renewed interest, Denmark’s prime minster Mette Frederiksen has pledged to bolster Greenland’s security and embarked on a tour of European capitals to seek support from allies.