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VOL. 2, ISSUE 1 (2026)
The Arctic Cold War
Authors
Arti Kumari
Abstract
The Russia–Ukraine armed conflict, which began
on 24 February 2022, has profoundly altered the global strategic environment
and has significantly impacted the geopolitics and governance of the Arctic
region. With the suspension of Arctic Council activities under Russia’s
chairmanship and the growing alignment of Arctic states with NATO, the Arctic
is increasingly emerging as a zone of strategic rivalry. The prospect of
Finland and Sweden joining NATO further consolidates NATO’s dominance in Arctic
governance, thereby marginalizing Russia within a forum originally designed for
cooperation. Simultaneously, the United States has articulated a renewed Arctic
strategy emphasizing military preparedness, force modernization, and countering
Russian and Chinese activities, while Russia continues to expand and modernize
its Arctic military infrastructure and conduct large-scale exercises. The
involvement of China as a self-declared “near-Arctic state” adds another layer
of complexity to the evolving power competition. As the Ukraine war intensifies
militarization, nuclear signaling, and geopolitical polarization, its spillover
effects are increasingly visible in the Arctic, a region rich in energy
resources and strategic sea routes. The growing militarization of the Arctic
thus signals a potential shift from cooperation to confrontation, raising
concerns about regional stability and the future of the international order.
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Pages:46-49
How to cite this article:
Arti Kumari "The Arctic Cold War". International Journal of Applied Review
, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 46-49
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