Overview of geostrategic issues in the Arctic

While we were in Tromsø, "Arctic Frontier" was taking place. It is a series of conferences designed to discuss the issues related to this region. Whether environmental or strategic, the latter are numerous and involve a multitude of actors. NGOs, cooperation forums and States are at the heart of this young "eldorado".

"The White Eldorado"

The accelerated melting of ice in the Arctic, caused by climate change, has highlighted previously untapped resources. According to the "US Geological Survey" report, published in 2008, the Arctic is estimated to concentrate about 13% of the world's oil reserves and 30% of its gas reserves. Changes in this vast territory of 18 million square kilometers have also revealed the existence of minerals, coal and diamonds.

In addition to these considerable resources, the melting of the ice opens up potential new shipping routes. Nuclear-powered icebreakers are used for these purposes. Two options are possible: a lane along the Siberian coast is opposed to a Canadian road. However, climatic conditions and shallow marine depth make it difficult to implement the Canadian way. The first option would be a "new Silk Road" for China since the distances between Asia and Europe would be reduced by 40%. The Suez Canal would be then avoided. A test was carried out in 2013 by a ship of the Chinese carrier COSCO. Further attempts have since been made to adapt the design of the ships for this route.

(https://reporterre.net/L-Arctique-ne-sera-pas-de-sitot-une-grande-route-maritime)

The two main Arctic shipping routes: one through Canada and the other through Russia.

Cooperation and conflicts

The Arctic is also a tense territory. This region covers five different countries: The United States, Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark. Many land claims have emerged between the latter, whose sovereignty is limited to the EEZ, an exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles off their coasts). They want more and are calling for an extension of their continental shelf. The resource-rich Lomonosov and Alpha-Mandeleev ridges are at the heart of these claims. This is also the subject of debate among scientists. Some have suggested that these ridges are oceanic and not volcanic in nature. If they are oceanic, States cannot claim them in order to extend their continental shelf.

(http://www.svalbard.fr/nouvelle-polaire/fonte-banquise-Arctique-Russie-nouveaux-territoires-2015_09.htm)

Territorial revendications in the Arctic region

Military bases are also deployed in Arctic territory. In recent years, Russia has acquired several bases, notably on the Kotelny Islands, Alexandra Land and Sredny. On the island of Alexandra, the facility is intended to allow 150 soldiers to live independently for 18 months. But the Russians are not the only ones with military bases in the Arctic. The United States has several of them, and China has a strong interest in acquiring a military presence in the region. In 2016, for example, Denmark refused to sell a naval base in Greenland (a constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark) to China for security reasons. The Asian giant is even holding back the independence movement in Greenland. In the event of independence, this young state would not have sufficient military capabilities to stand up to China.

(https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/cartes/banquiseguerre)

Map showing military bases in the Arctic

Nevertheless, cooperation between States is emerging in this territory with strong geostrategic potential. Russia, for example, turned to China, the largest investor in the Arctic, with the construction of the "Siberian Force" gas pipeline. As the European Union formulated its first sanctions against Russia following the annexation of Crimea, this gas pipeline is the beginning of a real Sino-Russian energy cooperation.

(https://francais.rt.com/economie/51557-force-siberie-gazoduc-geant-reliant-chine-russie)

This gas pipeline passes through the Siberian region. Gas deliveries are expected to start in December 2019. The agreement was signed in 2014 between Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation.

In the face of growing tensions, the Arctic Council, although created by Gorbachev to demilitarize the area after the Cold War, is considering acquiring stronger political power to prevent an escalation of conflicts.

References:

• Escudé, Camille. « Le Conseil de l’Arctique, la force des liens faibles ». Politique etrangere, vol. Automne, no 3, septembre 2017, p. 27‑36

• « Force de Sibérie, le gazoduc géant reliant la Russie à la Chine, en voie d’achèvement ». RT en Français, https://francais.rt.com/economie/51557-force-siberie-gazoduc-geant-reliant-chine-russie. Consulté le 2 février 2019.

• « L’Arctique, vers un dégel des appétits géopolitiques ? » France Culture, https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/les-enjeux-internationaux/larctique-vers-un-degel-des-tensions-politiques. Consulté le 3 février 2019.

• Lasserre, Frédéric. « La géopolitique de l’Arctique : sous le signe de la coopération ». , CERISCOPE, http://ceriscope.sciences-po.fr/environnement/content/part5/la-geopolitique-de-l-arctique-sous-le-signe-de-la-cooperation?page=1. Consulté le 2 février 2019.

• « Nouvelle géopolitique du monde arctique ». Le Monde diplomatique, 1 mai 2011, https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/cartes/banquiseguerre.