Strategic Assessment

Climate changes have transformed the Arctic region, rich in natural resources and minerals, into a magnet for different actors, and as a result, into an arena for their struggles. The most prominent state in this context is Russia, which since Putin’s rise to power has viewed the Arctic region as a Russian area of strategic influence and has formulated policy documents aimed at actualizing Russian aspirations in the region. To this end, over the past decade Russia has implemented a process of military buildup, including the upgrade, improvement, and increase of its military strength, and has been engaged in military activity that signals its intentions to the various actors involved.