Summary of "Why the world's superpowers are racing to control the Arctic - BBC World Service"

Overview

The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth. Climate change is transforming it from a remote, cooperative region into a strategic hotspot where environmental change, resources, new shipping routes and great‑power rivalry intersect.

“High north, high tension” — a region that has shifted from low tension to strategic contestation.

Who is involved

Arctic states: United States, Canada, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia.
Non‑Arctic states with growing presence: China, India, South Korea, and others (research bases, investments, political interest).

Recent history: cooperation then reversal

Cold War tensions eased after Mikhail Gorbachev’s 1987 push for reduced military activity and the creation of the Arctic Council, which promoted scientific and environmental cooperation.
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine reversed much of that cooperative narrative:
- Finland and Sweden joined NATO.
- The region is increasingly framed as Russia vs NATO, with the Norway–Finland–Russia border described as a de facto frontline.

Military activity and posture

Russia:
- Reopened Soviet‑era bases in the Arctic.
- Hosts much of its nuclear capability in the region.
- Tested hypersonic missiles there.
- Experienced direct attacks (e.g., a Russian Arctic air base struck by Ukrainian drones).
NATO / US:
- NATO held its largest Arctic exercises since the Cold War in 2024.
- The US reactivated a specialised Arctic force in Alaska.
Russia–NATO tensions and increased military activity are reshaping security dynamics in the High North.

Strategic competition and geopolitics

US focus on Greenland has been politically salient (including past proposals to purchase/secure Greenland).
Russia–China cooperation is a growing concern:
- Joint coast guard patrols and joint bomber flights near Alaska.
- China self‑identifies as a “near‑Arctic state” and launched the “Polar Silk Road” investment initiative in 2018.
- Beijing’s Arctic ambitions face local resistance and have had limited success beyond projects with Russia (for example, Arctic gas development).

Climate change, sea ice and shipping

Arctic summer sea ice has shrunk by roughly 2.6 million km² since 1979 (about the size of Argentina).
Melting ice creates seasonal shipping opportunities but with major limits:
- Only the Northern Sea Route (along Russia’s Arctic coast) is currently viable for commercial transit.
- The Northern Sea Route saw 97 voyages in 2024 versus roughly 13,000 ships transiting the Suez Canal annually.
- Harsh weather, unpredictable conditions and short transit windows constrain regular commercial shipping.

Resources and economic potential

The Arctic likely contains substantial undiscovered resources:
- An estimated ~30% of the world’s undiscovered gas.
- An estimated ~13% of the world’s undiscovered oil.
- Significant minerals and rare earths, notably in Greenland.
Extraction is difficult and costly due to remoteness, limited infrastructure and workforce shortages, but interest and competition are rising.

Key takeaway

The Arctic has moved from “high north, low tension” to “high north, high tension”: climate change, resource potential, emerging shipping routes and great‑power rivalry are combining to make it a strategically important and contested region.

Presenters / contributors (as named or quoted in subtitles)

Mikhail Gorbachev (quoted / historical reference)
Donald Trump (quoted)
Unnamed Greenlandic representative (quoted: preference for independence / caution about China)
Coverage attributed to BBC World Service (no on‑air reporter name provided in the supplied subtitles)