Title

A Divided Arctic: Is an Ice Curtain Emerging?

Authors

Gosnell, Rachael

Abstract

The era of Arctic exceptionalism has ended, bringing uncertainty to a region with tremendous strategic and economic potential. With Finland and Sweden joining the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance, the Arctic faces an unprecedented division: around half of the Arctic aligns under the NATO flag, while the other half remains Russian. Climate change is a critical factor driving regional activity, and the warming trends are affecting the region's economic development, infrastructure, and military activity. With Western sanctions blocking technological and economic cooperation with Russia, China is well-positioned to fill the gap. The "no limits" friendship between Russia and China facilitates increased Chinese investment and presence in a region historically wary of non-Arctic states. This article will examine how climate factors enable both the strengthened ties among like-minded Western Arctic nations and the growing relationship between Russia and China to assess whether a new "ice curtain" is emerging as strategic competition intensifies in the Arctic.

Subjects

RUSSIA; CHINA; INTERNATIONAL alliances; INTERNATIONAL sanctions; CLIMATE change; ECONOMIC development; DRAPERIES; WESTERN countries; INUIT

Publication

Connections (18121098), 2024, Vol 23, Issue 2, p129

ISSN

1812-1098

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.11610/Connections.23.2.03