At the northern edge of the planet, where darkness stretches for months, and ice sheets once sealed off the seas, a new arena of global rivalry has emerged. The Arctic, long dismissed as a frozen wilderness, is now a focal point of great-power competition. Rapid ice melt is uncovering rich mineral reserves, new shipping lanes and strategic advantages that could redraw the map of global influence.
Since the early 1990s, the Arctic has lost an estimated 7.6 trillion metric tonnes of ice, with melting accelerating by nearly 60 per cent. The environmental catastrophe has triggered a geopolitical rush: beneath the receding ice lie hundreds of oil and gas fields, along with rare earth minerals critical for electronics, defence production and renewable technologies. What was once a remote frontier has become a high-stakes battleground.
Russia dominates the region with the longest Arctic coastline and sees it as both a strategic shield and an economic lifeline, especially after the Ukraine war and Western sanctions. Its Northern Sea Route promises a shorter and cheaper maritime passage between Europe and Asia, but Moscow’s claim over large stretches as internal waters challenges global norms on freedom of navigation. Canada has ramped up security spending, uneasy about intensified Russian and Chinese activity near its north, and is building up its icebreakers and patrol forces to defend the Arctic frontier.
The United States has re-emphasised its Arctic posture through military deployments and bases such as Thule in Greenland, which act as critical nodes for missile defence and satellite surveillance. China, describing itself as a “near-Arctic state,” has expanded its polar presence through scientific outposts, commercial projects and deepening cooperation with Russia—moves that many see as motivated as much by strategy as by research.
Amid this scramble for power, India has chosen a more measured but quietly assertive approach. New Delhi has maintained a scientific foothold in the Arctic since 2008 through its Himadri research station in Svalbard. The launch of India’s formal Arctic Policy in 2022 outlined six areas of engagement—ranging from climate science and environmental protection to economic opportunities and international governance. Underpinning the policy is the goal of preserving strategic autonomy while ensuring India has a seat at the table in Arctic affairs.
Melting ice opens potential shipping routes that could complement India’s connectivity initiatives, including the International North-South Transport Corridor linking India to Europe. The Arctic could also expand opportunities in the Blue Economy and fisheries, while India’s space and satellite capabilities allow it to contribute meaningfully to polar research, climate monitoring and disaster forecasting.
This emerging theatre of competition presents both opportunities and risks for New Delhi. India’s longstanding partnership with Russia offers benefits in Arctic access and energy cooperation, yet excessive alignment could be interpreted as backing Moscow’s assertive Arctic claims. Conversely, distancing from Russia risks complicating ties with the West, especially as Washington and its allies tighten their polar security networks. Meanwhile, China’s deepening Arctic footprint—including infrastructure investments with potential military applications—adds another strategic variable that India cannot afford to ignore.
The Arctic is more than a contest for territory and resources; it is a global climate regulator. Rising sea levels, disrupted weather patterns and shifts in fisheries caused by Arctic warming will directly affect coastal populations and economies from South Asia to North America. India’s participation is therefore not only about geopolitical relevance but also about safeguarding long-term environmental and economic interests.
As a new polar order takes shape, the Arctic has become a testing ground for India’s ability to balance science, diplomacy and strategy while maintaining independent decision-making. The choices New Delhi makes in this rapidly changing region could influence its future economic security, climate preparedness and its place in an increasingly multipolar world.
