The strategic importance of the Arctic has been largely visible since the last days of the Cold War. As that confrontation faded into history, NATO militaries shifted their focus to new battlefields, allowing the Arctic to fall off the map. However, evolving geopolitical dynamics and the changing physical environment of the Arctic both contribute to its increasing strategic importance. In this article, we begin by briefly describing the Arctic and its military significance, followed by a brief overview of its military history. We then explore the key drivers of today’s strategic competition in the Arctic and how different nations are approaching that competition. Finally, we present some concluding remarks and integrated insights.
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