The Battle for the Arctic

The Arctic's increasing geopolitical importance due to climate change and resource accessibility is examined. Kenneth R. Rosen, an Arctic expert, discusses how melting ice opens sea lanes and exposes valuable minerals, attracting major powers like Russia, China, and the United States. Rosen highlights the irony of climate change deniers exploiting these newly available resources. He emphasizes Russia's strategic advantage in the Arctic, noting its superior icebreaker technology and re-establishment of Cold War military bases. Rosen criticizes the U.S.'s underdevelopment of Alaska's defense capabilities and infrastructure, questioning the focus on Greenland instead. He recounts his personal connection to the Arctic, stemming from his time as a reporter in Alaska, and expresses concern over the region's potential as a trigger point for global conflict, particularly around vulnerable areas like Svalbard.