Why is Competition Heating Up in the Arctic?

As global warming melts the Arctic ice, relationships between great powers are becoming icier than ever. Commercial enterprises and great powers alike are staking their claims to the region, making it the newest frontier in the battle for control over Earth’s shared waters—and the precious natural resources that lie beneath the frozen sea. As the Arctic has warmed, these valuable commodities have become more extractable, providing a powerful financial incentive for those willing to brave newly navigable waters. For countries such as the United States and Russia, the Arctic Circle could become a tactical site to expand naval and nuclear operations. Meanwhile, countries including Russia and China are eager to slash costs by sailing through new Arctic sea routes. But while the warming temperatures generate compelling opportunities for sometimes-opposing foreign interests, climate change has imperiled the region’s ecosystems and the many Indigenous tribes who live in the frozen North. As tensions continue to rise, will the warming Arctic play host to a new Cold War? This episode was originally released by Why It Matters on March 29, 2023 Find us What's Cracking in the Arctic - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/whats-cracking-arctic Why It Matters - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/why-it-matters Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/39tmKmi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3ACtkTq Google Podcasts - https://bit.ly/2W5Ef94 Host Gabrielle Sierra Podcast Host and Senior Producer Episode Guests Esther Brimmer, James H. Binger Senior Fellow in Global Governance, Council on Foreign Relations Captain Jeff Randall, U.S. Coast Guard Military Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations Related Episodes Climate Adaptation: Rising Tides in Coastal Cities - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/climate-adaptation-rising-tides-in-coastal-cities The Climate for Nuclear Energy - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/the-climate-for-nuclear-energy Subscribe to our channel: https://goo.gl/WCYsH7 The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher. Visit the CFR website: http://www.cfr.org Follow CFR on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cfr_org Follow CFR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/councilonfor...